Mesh network adjustment

ABSTRACT

Methods, apparatuses, and systems relating to narrow beam communications and wireless networking are disclosed. Exemplary methods for wireless networking and communications may include identifying a geographic area, receiving location data relating to the geographic area, receiving network performance data, analyzing the location data and the network performance data, identifying a first access point in the geographic area based at least in part on the analyzing, and adjusting a narrow beam communication device a predetermined amount relating to the first access point based at least in part on the analyzing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/729,728, titled: “Mesh Network Adjustment”,filed on Jun. 3, 2015. The disclosure of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure, for example, relates to wireless networks andcommunications including, but not limited to, security and/or automationsystems, and more particularly to narrow beam mesh networking andrelated operations and techniques.

Wired and wireless networking and communication systems are widelydeployed to provide various types of communication and functionalfeatures, including but not limited to those for security and automationsystems, such as monitoring, communication, notification, and/or others.These systems may be capable of supporting communication with a userthrough a communication connection or a system management action.

Current networking systems exhibit many shortcomings, including failingto account for signal inhibitors, using broad-range signals that mayaffect network performance and other access points, failing to adjustdynamically, and other problems. Moreover, current network designs failto account for real-world, application-based problems or requirecomplicated analysis that relies on human action, resulting in extensivetime and cost requirements. In addition, current system designs andnetworks fail to dynamically adjust as needed. Thus, there existsmultiple needs in the art for improved systems and methods relating towireless communication network design and operation.

SUMMARY

The present system and methods relate to narrow beam mesh networks,associated systems, and operations relating to network communications,including, in some embodiments, adjustments. The present systems andmethods may facilitate designing, operating, and/or adjusting wirelessnetwork communications. In some embodiments, the present systems andmethods relate to and account for application-based problems like signalinhibitors, lines of sight, relative locations and operations of systemcomponents and/or elements, among others.

The present systems and methods relate to determining lines of sightrelevant to wireless communications, including millimeter andnon-millimeter waves, and operations relating to one or more accesspoints. The present systems and methods also relate to designing,operating, and/or adjusting wireless network communications, includingthe relative position of system components, such as access points. Thepresent systems and methods may be based at least in part on one or morenarrow beam communication signals, including how these narrow beamcommunication signals relate to structures, signal inhibitors, accesspoints, customer premises devices (CPEs), other devices, and/oradditional system components.

Methods for wireless networking and communications are disclosed. Insome embodiments, methods may include identifying a geographic area,receiving topography data related to the geographic area, analyzing thetopography data, identifying a first line of sight path related to afirst access point location and one or more customer premises devicelocations based at least in part on the analyzing, and/or identifying asecond line of sight path based at least in part on a predeterminedamount.

In some embodiments, the predetermined amount may include a degreevalue. In some embodiments, the predetermined amount may include arelative relationship between to the first line of sight path and thesecond line of sight path. In some embodiments, the second line of sightpath relates to a second access point location and the first accesspoint location.

In some embodiments, analyzing the topography data may includedetermining relative positions of the first access point location andthe second access point location based at least in part on one or moreoperating characteristics. In some embodiments, the second line of sightpath relates to a second access point location and/or one or more othercustomer premises device locations, which may be based at least in parton the analyzing.

In some embodiments, analyzing the topography data may includedetermining a line of sight between two or more locations within thegeographic area. In some embodiments, the topography data may include atleast one of satellite imaging data, or flyover imaging data, or userdevice captured data, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments,analyzing the topography data may include comparing the first accesspoint location and the one or more customer premises device locationswith a location of one or more signal inhibitors.

In some embodiments, analyzing the topography data may includecalculating a distance between the first access point location and asecond access point location. In some embodiments, analyzing thetopography data may include comparing a visual characteristic of one ormore points within the geographic area. In some embodiments, the visualcharacteristic may include at least one of a texture, or a color, or ashape, or a reflectivity, or a structure type, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, methods may include positioning at least one of afirst access point at the first access point location and/or one or morecustomer premises devices based at least in part on the identifying thefirst line of sight path. In some embodiments, methods may includeinitiating a narrow beam communication relating to the first accesspoint and/or the one or more customer premises devices.

In some embodiments, the narrow beam communication may include acommunication in a range of 1 degree to 45 degrees. In some embodiments,the narrow beam communication may include a millimeter wave signal. Insome embodiments, the narrow beam communication may include anon-millimeter wave signal.

Apparatuses for wireless networking and communications are disclosed. Insome embodiments, apparatuses may include a processor, memory inelectronic communication with the processor, and/or instructions storedin the memory. In some embodiments, the instructions may be executableby the processor to identify a geographic area, receive topography datarelated to the geographic area, analyze the topography data, identify afirst line of sight path related to a first access point location andone or more customer premises device locations based at least in part onthe analyzing, and/or identify a second line of sight path based atleast in part on a predetermined amount.

In some embodiments, the predetermined amount may include a relativeangle between the first line of sight path and the second line of sightpath. In some embodiments, the predetermined amount may include arelative direction between the first line of sight path and the secondline of sight path.

Non-transitory computer-readable mediums storing computer-executablecode are disclosed. In some embodiments, the code may be executable by aprocessor to identify a geographic area, receive topography data relatedto the geographic area, analyze the topography data, identify a firstline of sight path related to a first access point location and/or oneor more customer premises device locations based at least in part on theanalyzing, and/or identify a second line of sight path based at least inpart on a predetermined amount.

Methods for wireless networking and communications are disclosed. Insome embodiments, methods may include identifying a geographic area,receiving location data relating to the geographic area, receivingnetwork performance data, analyzing the location data and the networkperformance data, identifying a first access point in the geographicarea based at least in part on the analyzing, and/or adjusting a narrowbeam communication device a predetermined amount relating to the firstaccess point based at least in part on the analyzing.

In some embodiments, adjusting the narrow beam communication device mayinclude adjusting a direction of the narrow beam communication device bythe predetermined amount. In some embodiments, adjusting the directionmay include rotating the direction of the narrow beam communicationdevice. In some embodiments, adjusting the direction is based at leastin part on a second access point location.

In some embodiments, method may include identifying a first line ofsight path related to the first access point. In some embodiments,adjusting the narrow beam communication device may include adjusting adirection of the first access point the predetermined amount relative tothe first line of sight path.

In some embodiments, the first line of sight path relates to the firstaccess point and/or one or more user premises devices. In someembodiments, the first line of sight path relates to the first accesspoint and/or one or more other access points. In some embodiments,methods may include identifying a second line of sight path related to asecond access point. In some embodiments, adjusting the narrow beamcommunication device may include adjusting a direction of the secondaccess point based at least in part on adjusting the direction of thefirst access point.

In some embodiments, the network performance data may include historicalperformance data relating to at least one of an access point and/or acustomer premises device in the geographic area. In some embodiments,analyzing the network performance data may include determining one ormore trends based at least in part on the historical performance data.In some embodiments, analyzing the network performance data may includecorrelating performance of a customer premises device with performanceof the first access point.

In some embodiments, analyzing the network performance data may includecorrelating performance of two or more customer premises devices withperformance of the first access point. In some embodiments, analyzingthe network performance data may include correlating performance of acustomer premises device with performance of the first access pointand/or a second access point. In some embodiments, the networkperformance data may include a notification relating to networkperformance within the geographic area.

In some embodiments, methods may include identifying a second accesspoint in the geographic area based at least in part on the analyzing,determining a performance indicator relating to the first access point,and/or adjusting a narrow beam communication device relating to thesecond access point based at least in part on the determining In someembodiments, analyzing the network performance data may includedetermining interference relating to the first access point.

Apparatuses for wireless networking and communications are disclosed. Insome embodiments, the apparatuses may include a processor, memory inelectronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored inthe memory. In some embodiments, the instructions may be executable bythe processor to identify a geographic area, receive location datarelating to the geographic area, receive network performance data,analyze the location data and the network performance data, identify afirst access point in the geographic area based at least in part on theanalyzing, and/or adjust a narrow beam communication device apredetermined amount relating to the first access point based at leastin part on the analyzing.

In some embodiments, adjusting the narrow beam communication device mayinclude adjusting a direction of the narrow beam communication devicebased at least in part on a location of two or more access points withinthe geographic area. In some embodiments, adjusting the narrow beamcommunication device may include adjusting a direction of the narrowbeam communication device based at least in part on a location of abackhaul connection within the geographic area.

Non-transitory computer-readable mediums storing computer-executablecode are disclosed. In some embodiments, the code may be executable by aprocessor to identify a geographic area, receive location data relatingto the geographic area, receive network performance data, analyze thelocation data and the network performance data, identify a first accesspoint in the geographic area based at least in part on the analyzing,and/or adjust a narrow beam communication device a predetermined amountrelating to the first access point based at least in part on theanalyzing.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of examples according to this disclosure so that thefollowing detailed description may be better understood. Additionalfeatures and advantages will be described below. The conception andspecific examples disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do notdepart from the scope of the appended claims. Characteristics of theconcepts disclosed herein—including their organization and method ofoperation—together with associated advantages will be better understoodfrom the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying figures. Each of the figures is provided for the purpose ofillustration and description only, and not as a definition of the limitsof the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentdisclosure may be realized by reference to the following drawings. Inthe appended figures, similar components or features may have the samereference label. Further, various components of the same type may bedistinguished by following a first reference label with a dash and asecond label that may distinguish among the similar components. However,features discussed for various components—including those having a dashand a second reference label—apply to other similar components. If onlythe first reference label is used in the specification, the descriptionis applicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram relating to wireless networking andcommunication systems, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a device relating to wireless networkingand communication systems, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a device relating to wireless networkingand communication systems, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of apparatuses relating to wirelessnetworking and communication systems, in accordance with various aspectsof this disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram relating to wireless networking andcommunication systems, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart illustrating exemplary methods relating towireless networking and communication systems, in accordance withvarious aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 7 shows designs illustrating exemplary methods relating to wirelessnetworking and communication systems, in accordance with various aspectsof this disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows designs illustrating exemplary methods relating to wirelessnetworking and communication systems, in accordance with various aspectsof this disclosure;

FIG. 9 shows designs illustrating exemplary methods relating to wirelessnetworking and communication systems, in accordance with various aspectsof this disclosure;

FIG. 10 shows designs illustrating exemplary methods relating towireless networking and communication systems, in accordance withvarious aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary methods relating towireless networking and communication systems, in accordance withvarious aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary methods relating towireless networking and communication systems, in accordance withvarious aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary methods relating towireless networking and communication systems, in accordance withvarious aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary methods relating towireless networking and communication systems, in accordance withvarious aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary methods relating towireless networking and communication systems, in accordance withvarious aspects of this disclosure; and

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary methods relating towireless networking and communication systems, in accordance withvarious aspects of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Current wireless communication system designs and applications fail toadequately address existing problems such as signal inhibition, channelinterference, and identifying a network structure and position thatfacilitates reliable and fast communications despite real-worldorganization, structure, and challenges. The present systems and methodsrelate to narrow beam network design and operation, among other things.Methods and operations are disclosed that relate to determininglocations of network components and elements, along with lines of sight.In some cases, these lines of sight may facilitate wirelesscommunications, like narrow beams, whether used with millimeter waveand/or other communications.

Some aspects of the present systems and methods relate to determiningthe lines of sight and the appropriate locations (based on analysis,identification, and/or determining) of certain system components, suchas access points. By identifying one or more possible locations of theaccess points, the narrow beam communications can also be organized,weighed, and determined. These narrow beam communications may beoriented or organized based on many things, including absolute and/orrelative: directions, widths, channels, locations of structures and/orsignal inhibitors, locations of customer devices, and many other things.Likewise, as part of network organization, planning, design, or based onan existing network, one or more devices and/or operations may beadjusted. These adjustments may account for one or more changes relatingto topography, system performance, algorithms, steps, customer devicedemand, and/or other factors, among other things.

The following description provides examples and is not limiting of thescope, applicability, and/or examples set forth in the claims. Changesmay be made in the function and/or arrangement of elements discussedwithout departing from the scope of the disclosure. Various examples mayomit, substitute, and/or add various procedures and/or components asappropriate. For instance, the methods described may be performed in anorder different from that described, and/or various steps may be added,omitted, and/or combined. Also, features described with respect to someexamples may be combined in other examples.

Millimeter waves are radio waves with wavelength in the range ofapproximately 1 millimeter to approximately 10 mm, which corresponds toa radio frequency of approximately 30 GigaHertz (GHz) to approximately300 GHz. These frequencies may also be referred to as the Extremely HighFrequency band. These radio waves may in some circumstances exhibitunique propagation characteristics. For example, compared with lowerfrequency radio waves, millimeter waves suffer higher propagation lossand/or signal attenuation, have a poorer ability to penetrate objects,such as buildings, walls, foliage, and are more susceptible toatmosphere absorption, deflection, and/or diffraction due to aircharacteristics.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a communications system 100 inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure. The communicationssystem 100 may include access points 101, apparatuses 105, devices 115,a network 130, and/or sensors 150, among other things. The network 130may provide user authentication, encryption, access authorization,tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access,calculation, modification, and/or functions.

The apparatuses 105 may interface with the network 130 through a firstset of wired and/or wireless communication links 132 to communicate withone or more remote servers 145. The apparatuses 105 may performcommunication configuration, adjustment, and/or scheduling forcommunication with the devices 115 and/or access points 101, or mayoperate under the control of a controller. In various examples, theapparatuses 105 may communicate—either directly or indirectly (e.g.,through network 130)—with each other over a second set of wired and/orwireless communication links 134. Apparatuses 105 may communicate with aback end server (such as the remote servers 145)—directly and/orindirectly—using the first set of one or more communication links 132.

The access points 101 may interface with the network 130 through a firstset of wired and/or wireless communication links 132 to communicate withone or more remote servers 145. The access points 101 may performcommunication configuration, adjustment, and/or scheduling forcommunication with the devices 115, or may operate under the control ofa controller. In various examples, the access points 101 maycommunicate—either directly or indirectly (e.g., through network130)—with each other over a second set of wired and/or wirelesscommunication links 134. Access points 101 may communicate with a backend server (such as the remote servers 145)—directly and/orindirectly—using the first set of one or more communication links 132.

The apparatuses 105 may wirelessly communicate with the devices 115 viaone or more antennas. Each of the apparatuses 105 may providecommunication coverage for a respective geographic coverage area 110. Insome examples, apparatuses 105 may be referred to as and/or include acontrol device, a control panel, a base transceiver station, a radiobase station, an access point, a radio transceiver, or some othersuitable terminology. The geographic coverage area 110 for an apparatus105 may be divided into sectors making up only a portion of the coveragearea. The communications system 100 may include apparatuses 105 ofdifferent types. There may be overlapping geographic coverage areas 110for one or more different parameters, including different technologies,features, subscriber preferences, hardware, software, technology, and/ormethods. For example, each apparatus 105 may be related to one or morediscrete structures (e.g., a home, a business) and each of the one morediscrete structures may be related to one or more discrete areas. Inother examples, multiple apparatuses 105 may be related to the same oneor more discrete structures (e.g., multiple apparatuses relating to ahome and/or a business complex).

The access points 101 may wirelessly communicate with the devices 115via one or more antennas. Each of the access points 101 may providecommunication coverage for a respective geographic coverage area 110. Insome examples, access points 101 may be referred to as and/or include anantenna, a base transceiver station, a radio base station, a radiotransceiver, or some other suitable terminology. The geographic coveragearea 110 for an apparatus 105 may be divided into sectors making up onlya portion of the coverage area. Access points 101 may comprise one ormore devices configured for and/or capable of wireless and/or wiredcommunications.

In some embodiments, access points 101 may comprise multiple devices,such as radios, configured for and/or capable of wirelesscommunications. In some embodiments, access points 101 may includemultiple radio devices positioned in various directions that may or maynot have overlapping coverage area. In some embodiments, access points101 may be configured for and/or capable of wireless narrow beamcommunications. In some embodiments, these narrow beam communicationsmay communicate over a certain area, such as one or more geographiccover areas 110, based on a communication angle of the access point. Forexample, in some embodiments, the narrow beam communication may be acommunication that is less than the maximum degree capability value of aradio transceiver element of the access point 101. So, if a radiotransceiver element may communicate over a 90 degree area then thenarrow beam communication may be less than 90 degrees.

In other embodiments, a narrow beam communication may be smaller and mayonly include one or more focused wireless communication. In someembodiments, these narrow beam communications may include a wirelesstransmission signal less than 45 degrees, less than 35 degrees, lessthan 30 degrees, less than 20 degrees, less than 10 degrees, less than 5degrees, more than 135 degrees, more than 145 degrees, more than 150degrees, more than 160 degrees, more than 170 degrees, more than 175degrees, less than 180 degrees, and/or more than 1 degree.

In some embodiments, a narrow beam communication signal within a rangebetween 25 degrees and 5 degrees may be appropriately sized to enablesufficient coverage for multiple structures (depending on the geographicarea and/or topography data, among other things), including but notlimited to multiple customer devices (e.g., CPEs, customer devices). Insome embodiments, a narrow beam communication signal within a rangebetween 20 degrees and 10 degrees may be appropriately sized to enablesufficient coverage for multiple structures (depending on the geographicarea and/or topography data, among other things), including but notlimited to multiple customer devices (e.g., CPEs, customer devices).

With respect to FIG. 1, each access point 101 may be configured forand/or capable of wireless narrow beam communications with respect todevices within one or more geographic coverage areas 110. In someembodiments, each access point 101 may be configured for and/or capableof wireless narrow beam communications with respect to devices withinonly one geographic coverage area 110. In some embodiments, one or moreaccess points 101 may be configured for and/or capable of wirelessnarrow beam communications with respect to devices in multiplegeographic coverage areas 110, while one or more other access points 101may be configured for and/or capable of wireless narrow beamcommunications with respect to devices in one geographic area.

The communications system 100 may include access points 101 of differenttypes. There may be overlapping geographic coverage areas 110 for one ormore different parameters, characteristics, and/or factors, includingdifferent technologies, features, subscriber preferences, hardware,software, technology, and/or methods. For example, each access point 101may be related to one or more discrete structures (e.g., a home, abusiness), including a grouping of structures and/or a subset and eachof the one more discrete structures may be related to one or morediscrete areas. In other examples, multiple access points 101 may berelated to the same one or more discrete structures (e.g., multipleapparatuses relating to a home and/or a business complex), grouping ofstructures, and/or a subset of.

The devices 115 may be dispersed throughout the communications system100 and each device 115 may be stationary and/or mobile. A device 115may include a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), awireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, atablet computer, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless localloop (WLL) station, a display device (e.g., TVs, computer monitors,etc.), a printer, a camera, and/or the like. A device 115 may alsoinclude or be referred to by those skilled in the art as a user device,a smartphone, a BLUETOOTH® device, a Wi-Fi device, a mobile station, asubscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, aremote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wirelesscommunications device, a remote device, an access terminal, a mobileterminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a useragent, a mobile client, a client, and/or some other suitableterminology.

The apparatuses 105 may wirelessly communicate with the sensors 150 viaone or more antennas. The sensors 150 may be dispersed throughout thecommunications system 100 and each sensor 150 may be stationary and/ormobile. A sensor 150 may include and/or be one or more sensors thatsense: proximity, motion, temperatures, humidity, sound level, smoke,structural features (e.g., glass breaking, window position, doorposition), time, light geo-location data of a user and/or a device,distance, biometrics, weight, speed, height, size, preferences, light,darkness, weather, time, system performance, and/or other inputs thatrelate to a security and/or an automation system. A device 115 and/or asensor 150 may be able to communicate through one or more wired and/orwireless connections with various components such as apparatuses,control panels, base stations, and/or network equipment (e.g., servers,wireless communication points, etc.) and/or the like.

The communication links 125 shown in communications system 100 mayinclude uplink (UL) transmissions from a device 115 to an apparatus 105,and/or downlink (DL) transmissions, from an apparatus 105 to a device115. Access points 101 may also include communication links 125 and mayinclude transmissions and/or downlink transmissions. Other systemcomponents and/or elements may also may also include communication links125 and may include transmissions and/or downlink transmissions. Eachcommunication link 125 may include one or more carriers, where eachcarrier may be a signal made up of multiple sub-carriers (e.g., waveformsignals of different frequencies) modulated according to the variousradio technologies. Each modulated signal may be sent on a differentsub-carrier and may carry control information (e.g., reference signals,control channels, etc.), overhead information, user data, etc. Thecommunication links 125 may transmit bidirectional communications and/orunidirectional communications. Communication links 125 may include oneor more connections, including but not limited to, 345 MHz, Wi-Fi,BLUETOOTH®, BLUETOOTH® Low Energy, cellular, Z-WAVE®, 802.11,peer-to-peer, LAN, WLAN, Ethernet, fire wire, fiber optic, and/or otherconnection types related to wireless communications generally and/orsecurity and/or automation systems.

In some embodiments of communications system 100, apparatuses 105,access points 101, and/or devices 115 may include one or more antennasfor employing antenna diversity schemes to improve communication qualityand reliability between apparatuses 105, access points 101, and/ordevices 115, among others. Additionally or alternatively, apparatuses105, access points 101, and/or devices 115 may employ multiple-input,multiple-output (MIMO) techniques that may take advantage of multi-path,mesh-type environments to transmit multiple spatial layers carrying thesame or different coded data.

While the devices 115 may communicate with each other through theapparatus 105 and/or access points 101 using communication links 125,each device 115 may also communicate directly with one or more otherdevices via one or more direct communication links 134. Two or moredevices 115 may communicate via a direct communication link 134 whenboth devices 115 are in the geographic coverage area 110 or when one orneither devices 115 is within the geographic coverage area 110. Examplesof direct communication links 134 may include Wi-Fi Direct, BLUETOOTH®,wired, and/or, and other P2P group connections, among others. Thedevices 115 in these examples may communicate according to the WLANradio and baseband protocol including physical and MAC layers from IEEE802.11, and its various versions including, but not limited to, 802.11b,802.11g, 802.11a, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ad, 802.11ah, etc. In otherimplementations, other peer-to-peer connections and/or ad hoc networksmay be implemented within communications system 100.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram 200 of an apparatus 205 for use inelectronic communication, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure. In some embodiments, the apparatus 205 may be an example ofone or more aspects of an apparatus 105 described with reference to FIG.1 and others. In some embodiments, the apparatus 205 may be an exampleof one or more aspects of an access point 101 described with referenceto FIG. 1 and others. In some embodiments, the apparatus 205 may be anexample of one or more aspects of a remote server 145 described withreference to FIG. 1 and others. In some embodiments, the apparatus 205may be an example of one or more aspects of a device 115 described withreference to FIG. 1 and others. In some embodiments, the apparatus 205may be an example of a control panel, an access point, a remote server,a customer premises equipment device, and/or a device. The apparatus 205may include a receiver module 210, a narrow beam module 215, and/or atransmitter module 220, among other things. The apparatus 205 may alsobe or include a processor. Each of these modules may be in communicationwith each other—directly and/or indirectly.

The components of the apparatus 205 may, individually or collectively,be implemented using one or more application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs) adapted to perform some or all of the applicablefunctions in hardware. Alternatively, the functions may be performed byone or more other processing units (or cores), on one or more integratedcircuits. In other examples, other types of integrated circuits may beused (e.g., Structured/Platform ASICs, Field Programmable Gate Arrays(FPGAs), and other Semi-Custom ICs), which may be programmed in anymanner known in the art. The functions of each module may also beimplemented—in whole or in part—with instructions embodied in memoryformatted to be executed by one or more general and/orapplication-specific processors.

The receiver module 210 may receive information such as packets, userdata, and/or control information associated with various informationchannels (e.g., control channels, data channels, etc.). The receivermodule 210 may be configured to and/or capable of receiving informationthrough wired and/or wireless connections from and/or relating to one ormore components of system 100, including but not limited to accesspoints 101, apparatuses 105, and/or device 115, remote servers 145,and/or information from apparatus 205 (including from another modulesuch as narrow beam module 215), among others. Information may be passedon to the narrow beam module 215, the transmitter module 220, and/or toother components of the apparatus 205 and/or a system, such as system100, among others.

The narrow beam module 215 may perform one or more operations relatingto an apparatus, an access point, a device and/or a remote server(including but not limited to apparatus 205, access point 101, device115, remoter server 145), that may be configured to, relate to, and/orcapable of performing narrow beam communications. The operations,features, and methods relating to narrow beam module 215 may beperformed regardless of whether the system includes a narrow beamcommunications device and/or which system component may perform a narrowbeam communication. References to a narrow beam apparatus 205 and/or anarrow beam module 215 (and variations) include all functions, features,and capabilities disclosed with respect to other apparatuses, accesspoints, remote servers, and devices, unless otherwise specificallynoted.

The transmitter module 220 may transmit the one or more signals receivedfrom other components of the apparatus 205 and/or other components ofany system, such as system 100. The transmitter module 220 may transmitgeographic data, topography data, data that has an action performed onit, summaries, analyses, determinations, initiations, operations,instructions, alerts, statuses, errors, and/or other informationrelating to one or more system components, network design and/ororganization, and/or narrow beam communication, among other things. Insome examples, the transmitter module 220 may be collocated with thereceiver module 210 in a transceiver module. In other examples, thetransmitter module 220 may not be collocated with the receiver module210 in a transceiver module.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram 300 of an apparatus 205-a for use inwireless communication, in accordance with various examples. Theapparatus 205-a may be an example of one or more aspects of an apparatus105 described with reference to FIG. 1 and others. It may be an exampleof an apparatus 205 described with reference to FIG. 2. The apparatus205-a may include a receiver module 210-a, a narrow beam module 215-a,and/or a transmitter module 220-a, which may be examples of thecorresponding modules of apparatus 205. The apparatus 205-a may includea processor. Each of these components may be in communication with eachother directly and/or indirectly. The narrow beam module 215-a mayinclude but is not limited to a location module 305, identificationmodule 310, data module 315, analysis module 320, initiation module 325,and/or adjustment module 330, among others. The receiver module 210-aand the transmitter module 220-a may perform the functions of thereceiver module 210 and the transmitter module 220 of FIG. 2,respectively.

The components of the apparatus 205-a may, individually or collectively,be implemented using one or more application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs) adapted to perform some or all of the applicablefunctions in hardware. Alternatively, the functions may be performed byone or more other processing units (or cores), on one or more integratedcircuits. In other examples, other types of integrated circuits may beused (e.g., Structured/Platform ASICs, Field Programmable Gate Arrays(FPGAs), and other Semi-Custom ICs), which may be programmed in anymanner known in the art. The functions of each module may also beimplemented—in whole or in part—with instructions embodied in memoryformatted to be executed by one or more general and/orapplication-specific processors.

In some embodiments, narrow beam module 215-a may include a locationmodule 305. Location module 305 may perform one or more operationsrelating to location information and/or other information, among otherthings. Location module 305 may perform one or more operations relatingto one or more other modules of narrow beam module 215-a, including butnot limited to identification module 310, data module 315, analysismodule 320, and/or adjustment module 330, among others. Location module305 may perform one or more operations relating to location information,including but not limited to locations, relative locations, and/orpossible locations of structures, streets, sidewalks, access points,backhaul lines, customer premises equipment (CPE), customer devices suchas smart phones, and/or other things.

Among other things, location module 305 may perform one or moreoperations relating to past locations, current locations, potentialfuture locations, theoretical locations, area locations, area locationsubsets, one or more relative locations, and/or projected locations,modeled locations, other location types, and/or some combination, amongother things. In some embodiments, location module 305 may perform oneor more operations, including but not limited to assessing, receiving,sorting, grouping, tracking, organizing, categorizing, placing,ordering, tracing, calculating, computing, estimating, and/or somecombination, among others. In some embodiments identification module 310may perform one or more operations discussed with respect to othermodules of apparatus 205-a and/or narrow beam module 215, alone and/orin combination, with the apparatus and/or the one or more other modules.

In some embodiments, narrow beam module 215-a may include anidentification module 310. Identification module 310 may perform one ormore operations relating to location information, geographicinformation, data, devices, and/or communications, among other things.Identification module 310 may perform one or more operations relating toone or more other modules of narrow beam module 215-a, including but notlimited to location module 305, data module 315, analysis module 320,and/or adjustment module 330, among others.

Identification module 310 may perform one or more operations relating tolocation information and/or topography data, including but not limitedto locations of structures, streets, sidewalks, access points, backhaullines, customer premises equipment (CPE), customer devices such as smartphones and/or data, including but not limited to data relating tostates, cities, municipalities, structures, streets, satellites, lidar(which may provide prime locations of one or more system components,such as access points, and/or lines of sight between one or morelocations as compared to satellite and/or other data), unmanned drones,sidewalks, elevations, terrain, orienteering information, connectionsand/or points between two or more objects and/or locations, vegetation(e.g., trees, bushes), property lines, city planning documents, zoningregulations, organization of one or more objects, neighborhoods,regulations, covenants, ordinances, physical characteristics (e.g.,reflectivity, height, width, depth), traffic direction, structurespacing, subsets of one or more areas, relative positions of structuresand/or other objects, access points, backhaul lines, customer premisesequipment (CPE), customer devices such as smart phones, somecombination, etc.

Among other things, identification module 310 may perform one or moreoperations relating to past locations and/or data, current locationsand/or data, potential future locations and/or data, theoreticallocations and/or data, area locations and/or data, area location subsetsand/or data, one or more relative locations and/or data, projectedlocations and/or data, modeled locations and/or data, other locationtypes and/or data, and/or combinations of some and/or all of these,among other things. In some embodiments, identification module 310 mayperform one or more operations, including but not limited toidentifying, classifying, recognizing, detecting, distinguishing,characterizing, discovering, distinguishing, associating, connecting,relating, assessing, receiving, calculating, computing, estimating,and/or some combination, among others. In some embodimentsidentification module 310 may perform one or more operations discussedwith respect to other modules of apparatus 205-a and/or narrow beammodule 215, alone and/or in combination, with the apparatus and/or theone or more other modules.

In some embodiments, identification may include identifying one or moreuser devices. This identifying may include identifying one or more userdevices relating to one or more access points based at least in part onother operations, including but not limited to analysis performed byanalysis module 320. In some embodiments, identification may includeidentifying one or more access points. This identifying may be based atleast in part on other operations, including but not limited to analysisperformed by analysis module 320.

In some embodiments, narrow beam module 215-a may include a data module315. Data module 315 may perform one or more operations relating togeographic, topographic, and/or other data, among other things. Datamodule 315 may perform one or more operations relating to geographic,topographic, and/or other data, including but not limited to datarelating to states, cities, municipalities, structures, streets,satellites, lidar, user devices, sidewalks, elevations, terrain,orienteering information, connections and/or points between two or moreobjects and/or locations, vegetation (e.g., trees, bushes), propertylines, zoning regulations, organization of one or more objects,neighborhoods, regulations, covenants, ordinances, physicalcharacteristics (e.g., reflectivity, height, width, depth), trafficdirection, structure spacing, subsets of one or more areas, relativepositions of structures and/or other objects, access points, backhaullines, customer premises equipment (CPE), customer devices such as smartphones, some combination, and/or other information. Among other things,data module 315 may perform one or more operations of relating to pastdata, current data, potential future data, theoretical data, calculateddata, area data, area data subsets, one or more relative data sets,and/or projected data, modeled data, other types, and/or somecombination, among other things. In some embodiments, data module 315may perform one or more operations, including but not limited toassessing, receiving, sorting, grouping, tracking, organizing,categorizing, placing, ordering, tracing, calculating, computing,estimating, and/or some combination, among others. In some embodimentsidentification module 310 may perform one or more operations discussedwith respect to other modules of apparatus 205-a and/or narrow beammodule 215, alone and/or in combination, with the apparatus and/or theone or more other modules.

In some embodiments, narrow beam module 215-a may include an analysismodule 320. Analysis module 320 may perform one or more operationsrelating location information, data, devices, and/or communications,narrow beam communications, among other things. Analysis module 320 mayperform one or more operations relating to one or more other modules ofnarrow beam module 215-a, including but not limited to location module305, identification module 310, and/or data module 315, among others.Analysis module 320 may perform one or more operations relating tolocation information, including but not limited to locations ofstructures, streets, sidewalks, access points, backhaul lines, customerpremises equipment (CPE), customer devices such as smart phones and/ordata, including but not limited to data relating to states, cities,municipalities, structures, streets, satellites, lidar, sidewalks,elevations, terrain, orienteering information, connections and/or pointsbetween two or more objects and/or locations, vegetation (e.g., trees,bushes), property lines, zoning regulations, organization of one or moreobjects, neighborhoods, regulations, covenants, ordinances, physicalcharacteristics (e.g., reflectivity, height, width, depth), trafficdirection, structure spacing, subsets of one or more areas, relativepositions of structures and/or other objects, access points, backhaullines, customer premises equipment (CPE), customer devices such as smartphones, network performance information including but not limited tonotifications related to one or components and/or elements,characteristics, parameters, actual data, interference data, calculateddata, projected data, channel information, and/or some combination, etc.

Among other things, analysis module 320 may perform one or moreoperations relating to past locations and/or data, current locationsand/or data, potential future locations and/or data, theoreticallocations and/or data, area locations and/or data, area location subsetsand/or data, one or more relative locations and/or data, projectedlocations and/or data, modeled locations and/or data, other locationtypes and/or data, relative height of one or more points in and/orrelating to a geographic area, data relating to one or more trends,correlations, patterns, designs, models, organizations, configurations,and/or combinations of some and/or all of these, among other things. Insome embodiments, analysis module 320 may perform one or moreoperations, including but not limited to analyzing, examining,evaluating, comparing, calculating, correlating, linking, matching,relating, contrasting, assembling, identifying, detecting,distinguishing, characterizing, discovering, associating, connecting,assessing, receiving, computing, estimating, and/or some combination,among others. In some embodiments, analysis module 320 may perform oneor more operations discussed with respect to other modules of apparatus205-a and/or narrow beam module 215, alone and/or in combination, withthe apparatus and/or the one or more other modules.

In some embodiments, narrow beam module 215-a may include an initiationmodule 325. Initiation module 325 may perform one or more operationsinformation and/or data, related to and/or separate from other modulesof narrow beam module 215-a. Initiation module 325 may perform one ormore operations because of, based in whole and/or in part on, relatedto, and/or separate from one or more other modules of narrow beam module215-a. For example, initiation module 325 may initiate one or moreoperations relating to one or more components based on one or moreoperations related to analysis module 320.

As an example, if analysis module 320 analyzes geographic area and/ortopography data and determines one or more results, initiation modulemay perform one or more operations based at least in part on one or moreresults. Initiation module 325 may perform the one or more initiationactions automatically, after a period of time, based on userpreferences, based on system performance, based on performance relatingto one or more devices within a system, based on one or moreconstraints, and/or some combination, among other things. For example,based at least in part on analysis module 320 analyzing geographic areaand/or topography data and determining one or more results, initiationmodule 325 may initiate one or more actions relating to one or morecomponents, including but not limited to an access point, a CPE, abackhaul link, a remote server, an apparatus, a control panel, and/orsome combination, among others. Unless otherwise noted “based on,”includes based solely on and based at least in part on, as used in thisdisclosure. Examples of initiated actions may include but are notlimited to rotations, movements, orientations, modifications, frequencymodifications, changing locations, modifying operations, adding and/oromitting one or more steps, alternating, calculations, adapting, varying(including randomly and/or pseudo-randomly), initiating, cancelling,pausing, powering on, powering off, communicating, capturing, enabling,restarting, some combination, and/or other functions.

In some embodiments, narrow beam module 215-a may include an adjustmentmodule 330. In some embodiments, adjustment module 330 may adjust one ormore operations related to one or more components of a system, such assystem 100. For example, adjustment module 330 may adjust the operationof an access point (among other components elements, and/or devices),including adjusting a frequency, a channel, a field of view, a strengthof a narrow beam communication, a communication direction, a relativecommunication direction, a power, a communication width (broader and/ornarrower), a horizontal narrow beam communication characteristic, avertical narrow beam communication characteristic, a location of acomponent, a relative location of a components, a performance parameter,a performance characteristic, a time, an output, a protocol, asensitivity, a predetermined threshold level, a scheduled monitoring, acapturing of different and/or additional data, and/or other operations.Adjustment module 330 may additionally or alternatively modify theoperation of multiple components (e.g., access points, devices,apparatuses, remote servers) and/or elements, based on a single inputand/or multiple inputs. Adjustment module 330 may additionally oralternatively modify the operation of one or more modules and/oralgorithms relating to one or more methods and/or operations that relateto one or more components (e.g., access points, devices, apparatuses,remote servers) and/or elements, based on a single input and/or multipleinputs. For example, adjustment module 330 may adjust the operation of afirst access point 101, a device 115, and a second access point 101based on data relating to the first access point 101, a device 115, anda second access point 101 (among others), including but not limited tochannel use, performance, alerts, instructions, and/or otherinformation. In some embodiments, a performance indicator may include aperformance parameter and/or a performance characteristic.

In some embodiments, adjustment may include adjusting a direction. As anexample, adjusting a direction of one or more system components and/orelements may be based at least in part on a location of user device,locations of multiple user devices, and/or other information, includingbut not limited to other locations.

In some embodiments, narrow beam module 215-a (and associated systemcomponents) may function as fixed-direction apparatuses. Based on aninstallation direction, topography data, a projected direction, and/orother information, a narrow beam module 215-a (and associated systemcomponents) may perform one or more operations in a given direction andmay not be dynamically adjustable. In some embodiments, based oninstallation and/or a projected direction, a narrow beam module 215-amay perform one or more operations in one and only one set direction. Insome embodiments, based on installation and/or a projected direction, anarrow beam module 215-a may perform one or more operations in one setdirection relative to another different narrow beam module 215-a (e.g.,an access point), a signal inhibitor, a backhaul lines, a customerpremises equipment (CPE), some combination of these, and/or otherinformation.

In some embodiments, at least some of the operations relating toapparatus 205-a, including but not limited to operations relating tonarrow beam module 215-a, may be performed in one or more layers of opensystem interconnection. In some embodiments, at least some of theoperations relating to apparatus 205-a, including but not limited tooperations relating to narrow beam module 215-a, may be performed in thelower and/or the upper MAC layers, among others.

FIG. 4 shows a system 400 for use in wireless communications, includingnarrow beam networking systems, in accordance with various examples.System 400 may include an apparatus 205-b, which may be an example ofthe apparatuses 105 of FIG. 1. Apparatus 205-b may also be an example ofone or more aspects of apparatuses 205 and/or 205-a of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Apparatus 205-b may include narrow beam module 215-b, among others,which may be an example of narrow beam module 215 described withreference to FIG. 2 and others. Apparatus 205-b may include narrow beammodule 215-b, among others, which may be an example of narrow beammodule 215-a described with reference to FIG. 3 and others. In someembodiments, the terms an apparatus and a control device are usedsynonymously.

Apparatus 205-b may also include components for bi-directional voice anddata communications including components for transmitting communicationsand components for receiving communications. For example, apparatus205-b may communicate bi-directionally with one or more of device 115-a,one or more sensors 150-a, remote storage 140, and/or remote server145-a, which may be an example of the remote server of FIG. 1. Thisbi-directional communication may be direct (e.g., apparatus 205-bcommunicating directly with remote storage 140) or indirect (e.g.,apparatus 205-b communicating indirectly with remote server 145-athrough remote storage 140).

The narrow beam module 215-b may perform one or more operations relatingnarrow beam communications, including wireless narrow beam networkorganization and/or communication based at least in part on geographicarea data, topography data, information relating to wirelesscommunication and/or network organization, location information,identification operations, analysis operations, initiation operations,and/or adjustment operations as described above with reference to FIGS.1-3. For example, narrow beam module 215-b may perform one or moreoperations relating to topography data and/or geographic area data,analyzing at least one of the topography data and the geographic areadata, and identifying one or more lines of sight and/or performing oneor more other operations, such as adjustment, as described withreference to FIGS. 1-3 and others, among others. In some embodiments,identifying one or more lines of sight may be based at least in part ondetermining a line of sight having certain characteristics, includingcurrent horizontal clearance (e.g., 3 meters), current verticalclearance (e.g., 3 meters), a current window of clearance (of one ormore shapes such as a circle, an oval, a rectangle, etc.), calculatedand/or projected horizontal clearance, calculated and/or projectedvertical clearance, a calculated and/or projected window of clearance,some combination, and/or other characteristics.

As shown in FIG. 4, apparatus 205-b may include one or more elementsincluding elements 405, 410, 415, 425, 430, 435, 440, and/or others.Other devices, including, but not limited to, devices 115-a, accesspoints, 101-a, and/or remote servers 145-a, may include one or more ofelements 405, 410, 415, 425, 430, 435, and/or 440, among others. Thus,specific devices, including narrow beam access points 101 may includeone or more elements described with respect to apparatus 205-b, relatingto FIG. 4 and/or otherwise. In some embodiments, access points 101and/or remote servers 145-a (among others) may perform some and/or allof the operations and/or functions discussed for apparatus 205-b, andthe access points 101 and/or remote servers 145-a (or others) mayfunction independent of an apparatus 205-b. In such independentembodiments, the access points 101 (or devices, such as devices 115) mayoperate and/or communicate directly with remote storage 140 and/orremote server 145-a, among other elements.

Apparatus 205-b may also include a processor module 405, and memory 410(including software/firmware code (SW) 415), an input/output controllermodule 420, a user interface module 425, a transceiver module 430, andone or more antennas 435 each of which may communicate—directly orindirectly—with one another (e.g., via one or more buses 440). Thetransceiver module 430 may communicate bi-directionally—via the one ormore antennas 435, wired links, and/or wireless links—with one or morenetworks or remote devices as described above. For example, thetransceiver module 430 may communicate bi-directionally with one or moreof device 115-a, remote storage 140, and/or remote server 145-a. Thetransceiver module 430 may include a modem to modulate the packets andprovide the modulated packets to the one or more antennas 435 fortransmission, and to demodulate packets received from the one or moreantennas 435. While a control panel, an apparatus, or a control device(e.g., 205-b) may include a single antenna 435, the control panel, theapparatus, or the control device may also have multiple antennas 435capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wired and/orwireless transmissions. In some embodiments, one element of apparatus205-b (e.g., one or more antennas 435, transceiver module 430, etc.) mayprovide a direct connection to a remote server 145-a via a directnetwork link to the Internet via a POP (point of presence). In someembodiments, one element of apparatus 205-b (e.g., one or more antennas435, transceiver module 430, etc.) may provide a connection usingwireless techniques, including digital cellular telephone connection,Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) connection, digital satellite dataconnection, and/or another connection.

The signals associated with system 400 may include wirelesscommunication signals such as radio frequency, electromagnetics, localarea network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), virtual private network(VPN), wireless network (using 802.11, for example), 345 MHz, Z-WAVE®,cellular network (using 3G and/or LTE, for example), and/or othersignals. The one or more antennas 435 and/or transceiver module 430 mayinclude or be related to, but are not limited to, WWAN (GSM, CDMA, andWCDMA), WLAN (including BLUETOOTH® and Wi-Fi), WMAN (WiMAX), antennasfor mobile communications, antennas for Wireless Personal Area Network(WPAN) applications (including RFID and UWB). In some embodiments, eachantenna 435 may receive signals or information specific and/or exclusiveto itself. In other embodiments, each antenna 435 may receive signals orinformation not specific or exclusive to itself.

In some embodiments, one or more sensors 150-a (e.g., motion, proximity,smoke, light, glass break, door, window, carbon monoxide, and/or anothersensor) may connect to some element of system 400 via a network usingone or more wired and/or wireless connections.

In some embodiments, the user interface module 425 may include an audiodevice, such as an external speaker system, an external display devicesuch as a display screen, and/or an input device (e.g., remote controldevice interfaced with the user interface module 425 directly and/orthrough I/O controller module 420).

One or more buses 440 may allow data communication between one or moreelements of apparatus 205-b (e.g., processor module 405, memory 410, I/Ocontroller module 420, user interface module 425, etc.).

The memory 410 may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory(ROM), flash RAM, and/or other types. The memory 410 may storecomputer-readable, computer-executable software/firmware code 415including instructions that, when executed, cause the processor module405 to perform various functions described in this disclosure (e.g.,operations relating to locations, identifying actions, operationsrelating to data, analyzing actions, initiating one or more operations,adjusting operations, etc.). Alternatively, the software/firmware code415 may not be directly executable by the processor module 405 but maycause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functionsdescribed herein. Alternatively, the computer-readable,computer-executable software/firmware code 415 may not be directlyexecutable by the processor module 405 but may be configured to cause acomputer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functionsdescribed herein. The processor module 405 may include an intelligenthardware device, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), amicrocontroller, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.

In some embodiments, the memory 410 can contain, among other things, theBasic Input-Output system (BIOS) which may control basic hardware and/orsoftware operation such as the interaction with peripheral components ordevices. For example, the narrow beam module 215-b to implement thepresent systems and methods may be stored within the system memory 410.Applications resident with system 400 are generally stored on andaccessed via a non-transitory computer readable medium, such as a harddisk drive or other storage medium. Additionally, applications can be inthe form of electronic signals modulated in accordance with theapplication and data communication technology when accessed via anetwork interface (e.g., transceiver module 430, one or more antennas435, etc.).

Many other devices and/or subsystems may be connected to one or may beincluded as one or more elements of system 400 (e.g., entertainmentsystem, computing device, remote cameras, wireless key fob, wall mounteduser interface device, cell radio module, battery, alarm siren, doorlock, lighting system, thermostat, home appliance monitor, utilityequipment monitor, and so on). In some embodiments, all of the elementsshown in FIG. 4 need not be present to practice the present systems andmethods. The devices and subsystems can be interconnected in differentways from that shown in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, an aspect of someoperation of a system, such as that shown in FIG. 4, may be readilyknown in the art and are not discussed in detail in this application.Code to implement the present disclosure can be stored in anon-transitory computer-readable medium such as one or more of systemmemory 410 or other memory. The operating system provided on I/Ocontroller module 420 may be iOS®, ANDROID®, MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®,OS/2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, or another known operating system.

The transceiver module 430 may include a modem configured to modulatethe packets and provide the modulated packets to the antennas 435 fortransmission and/or to demodulate packets received from the antennas435. While the control panel or control device (e.g., 205-b) may includea single antenna 435, the control panel or control device (e.g., 205-b)may have multiple antennas 435 capable of concurrently transmittingand/or receiving multiple wireless transmissions.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a system 500 in accordance with variousaspects of the disclosure. The system 500 may include apparatus 205-c,device 115-c, remote server 145-b, and one or more devices withingeographic coverage area 110-a, network 130, and/or other components. Insome embodiments, these one or more components may communicate with eachother using similar, different, exactly the same, and/or othervariations of different signals. In some embodiments, apparatus 205-cmay be example of an access point and/or another device (e.g., device115), among other things.

In some embodiments, apparatus 205-c may communicate directly and/orindirectly with other components and/or elements via wired and/orwireless connections. Indirect communication may include communicatingwith one or more devices via network 130, which may be a wired and/or awireless network. Additionally and/or alternatively, indirectcommunication may include communicating with one component and/orelements through one or more other components and/or elements. Forexample, apparatus 205-c may communicate with remote server 145-bthrough device 115-c. In some embodiments, this indirect communicationmay be facilitated by narrow beam module 215-e and/or 215-d. In someembodiments, each system component may be capable of and/or configuredto communicate with one or more other devices.

In some embodiments, multiple system components, such as devices 115-cand/or apparatuses 205-c may communicate with other similar and/ordifference components that may be separated by a distance. Then, in someembodiments, after a certain parameter, threshold, limit, and/or otherconstraint is met (e.g., the number of powered components communicating,a calculated distance and/or from an origin component to anothercomponent), that component device may communicate with an apparatus205-c and/or any other component, such as a remote server 145-b. In someembodiments, a device 115-c may not require all and/or any of theelements of a narrow beam module 215-e to function and/or may functionbased on including different modules. As another example, apparatus205-c may communicate with device 115-c through one or more deviceswithin geographic coverage area 110-a.

In some embodiments, network 130 may comprise a wireless network only.In some embodiments, network 130 may comprise a wired network only. Insome embodiments, network 130 may comprise a wireless and a wirednetwork. In some embodiments, one or more components may communicatewith a first other component using a first method of wirelesscommunication (e.g., non-narrow beam communication, non-millimeter wavecommunication), while the one or more components may communicate with asecond other component using a second method of wireless communication(e.g., narrow beam communication, millimeter wave communication).

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a system 600 in accordance with variousaspects of the disclosure. The system 600 may include device 115-d,apparatus 205-c, remote server 145-a, network 130, and/or othercomponents. In some embodiments, these one or more components maycommunicate with each using similar, different, exactly the same, and/orother variations of different signals and/or methods.

In some embodiments, apparatus 205-c may generate geographic area and/ortopography data, as shown by block 605. Additionally and/oralternatively, in some embodiments, apparatus 205-c may receivegeographic area (and/or perform one or more operations) and/ortopography data from another source, such as a remote server 145-a,remote storage 140, device 115-d, and/or other components of a system(e.g., system 100), among others. In some embodiments, the geographicarea data may relate to a geographic boundary, a region, a section, oneor more subsets of a larger area (e.g., a state, a city), somecombination, and/or other information. In some embodiments, topographydata may include but is not limited to locations of structures, streets,sidewalks, access points, backhaul lines, customer premises equipment(CPE), customer devices such as smart phones and/or data, including butnot limited to data relating to states, cities, municipalities,structures, streets, satellites, lidar, sidewalks, elevations, terrain,orienteering information, connections and/or points between two or moreobjects and/or locations, vegetation (e.g., trees, bushes), propertylines, city planning documents, material types, object density, objectmobility including based on weather, zoning regulations, organization ofone or more objects, neighborhoods, regulations, covenants, ordinances,physical characteristics (e.g., reflectivity, height, width, depth),traffic direction, structure spacing, subsets of one or more areas,relative positions of structures and/or other objects, access points,backhaul lines, customer premises equipment (CPE), customer devices suchas smart phones, data relating to one or more sensors (e.g., sensor 150)such as those relating to proximity, motion, temperatures, humidity,sound level, smoke, structural features (e.g., glass breaking, windowposition, door position), time, light geo-location data of a user and/ora device, distance, biometrics, weight, speed, height, size,preferences, light, darkness, weather, time, system performance, and/orother inputs, and/or some combination, etc.

As shown by arrow 610, apparatus 205-c may communicate with apparatus205-c (transmitting, receiving, and/or transmitting and receiving).

In some embodiments, remote server 145-a may receive geographic areainformation and/or topography information (and/or perform one or moreoperations), as shown by block 615. In some embodiments this receivingmay include receiving information generated by an apparatus (e.g.,apparatus 205-c) and/or another device (e.g., device 115-d) and/or mayinclude both generating one or more types of data itself (via remoteserver 145-a), and/or receiving other data from one or more othercomponents. In some embodiments, remote server 145-a may analyze (and/orperform one or more operations) at least one of the geographic areaand/or topography information, as shown by block 620. In someembodiments this analysis may include performing analysis of one or moredata types and/or one or more information types, including analyzinginformation as described for analysis module 320 discussed with respectto FIG. 3.

In some embodiments, device 115-d may generate location information(and/or perform one or more operations), as shown by block 625.Additionally and/or alternatively, in some embodiments, device 115-d mayreceive location information from another source, such as a remoteserver 145-a, another device 115, remote storage 140, and/or othercomponents of a system (e.g., system 100), among others.

As shown by arrow 630, device 115-d may communicate with apparatus 205-c(transmitting, receiving, and/or transmitting and receiving).

In some embodiments, apparatus 205-c may generate location information(and/or perform one or more operations), as shown by block 635.Additionally and/or alternatively, in some embodiments, apparatus 205-cmay receive location information from another source, such as a remoteserver 145-a, another device 115, remote storage 140, and/or othercomponents of a system (e.g., system 100), among others.

As shown by arrow 640, apparatus 205-c may communicate with remoteserver 145-a (transmitting, receiving, and/or transmitting andreceiving).

In some embodiments, apparatus 205-c may identify one or morecommunication paths and/or characteristics of at least one communicationpath (and/or perform one or more operations), as shown in block 645.This identifying may, in some embodiments, include one or moreoperations relating to identification module 310 described with respectto FIG. 3. This identifying may include but is not limited toidentifying a line of sight, a path width, a path length, verticalcharacteristics relating to a path, horizontal characteristics relatingto a path, alternative paths, relative direction of one or more paths toeach other and/or other components, relative length of one or more pathsto each other and/or other components, other relative characteristics ofone or more paths to each other and/or other components, and/or somecombination, among other things. In some embodiments, this identifyingmay be based at least in part on one or more operations performed inFIG. 6, discussed in this disclosure (including with respect to FIGS.1-5), and/or other operations. For example, the identifying in block 645may be performed based at least in part on the location informationrelating to block 625 and/or 635, the analysis relating to block 620,and/or the geographic and/or topography data relating to block 605,among other things.

As shown by arrow 650, apparatus 205-c may communicate with remoteserver 145-a (transmitting, receiving, and/or transmitting andreceiving).

In some embodiments, remote server 145-a may identify one or morecommunication paths and/or characteristics of at least one communicationpath (and/or perform one or more operations), as shown in block 655.This identifying may, in some embodiments, include one or moreoperations relating to identification module 310 described with respectto FIG. 3, among other things. This identifying may include but is notlimited to identifying a line of sight, a path width, a path length,vertical characteristics relating to a path, horizontal characteristicsrelating to a path, alternative paths, relative direction of one or morepaths to each other and/or other components, relative length of one ormore paths to each other and/or other components, and/or other relativecharacteristics of one or more paths to each other and/or othercomponents, among other things. In some embodiments, this identifyingmay be based at least in part on one or more operations performed inFIG. 6, discussed in this disclosure (including with respect to FIGS.1-5), and/or other operations.

For example, the identifying in block 655 may be performed based atleast in part on the location information relating to block 625 and/or635, the analysis relating to block 620, the identifying relating toblock 645, and/or the geographic and/or topography data relating toblock 605, among other things.

As shown by arrow 660, remote server 145-a may communicate withapparatus 205-c (transmitting, receiving, and/or transmitting andreceiving). In some embodiments, this communication may includecommunication based at least in part on the identifying in block 655and/or other operations.

As shown by arrow 665, remote server 145-a may communicate with device115-d (transmitting, receiving, and/or transmitting and receiving). Insome embodiments, this communication may include communication based atleast in part on the identifying in block 655 and/or other operations.

In some embodiments, apparatus 205-c may initiate one or morecommunication adjustment operations (and/or perform one or moreoperations), as shown in block 670. In some embodiments, thiscommunication adjustment operation may include communication based atleast in part on the identifying in block 655, the analyzing operationperformed in block 620, and/or other operations. This adjustmentoperation may, in some embodiments, include one or more operationsrelating to adjustment module 330 described with respect to FIG. 3,among other things.

In some embodiments, device 115-d may initiate one or more communicationrelated operations (and/or perform one or more operations), as shown inblock 675. In some embodiments, this communication-related operation mayinclude communication based at least in part on the identifying in block655, the analyzing operation performed in block 620, and/or otheroperations. This communication related operation may, in someembodiments, include one or more operations relating to initiationmodule 325 described with respect to FIG. 3, among other things.

Any and/or all of these communications between the one or morecomponents may be performed via network 130, which may include wiredand/or wireless connections.

Though FIG. 6 displays operations and function relating to geographicarea data, topography data, location information and communicationspaths, the communications, function, and other information may relate tothese data and/or information types, and/or other related information.

With respect to FIG. 6 and the other FIGs. of this disclosure, theembodiments shown should not be taken as limiting unless specificallynoted. For example, though FIG. 6 shows device 115-d communicating withapparatus 205-c (e.g., arrow 630) and remote server 145-a communicatingwith apparatus 205-c (e.g., arrows 610, 660), any of thesecommunications and/or functions may include communicating between onlyapparatus 205-d, apparatus 205-d and remote server 145-a, only remoteserver 145-a, and/or apparatus 205-d and remote server 145-a and one ormore other devices, among others. Moreover, any functions described withrespect to one or more components shown in FIG. 6 may be performed byand/or relate to different components (e.g., those operations performedby apparatus 205-d may be performed by remote server 145-a, and viceversa).

FIG. 7 illustrates examples of system 700 in accordance with the presentsystems, apparatuses, and methods. In some embodiments, one or morecomponents of system 700 may include the same, similar and/or differentfunctions, characteristics, performance, and/or other informationrelating to other systems, access points, devices, apparatuses, remoteservers, and/or modules related to this disclosure, including relatingto FIGS. 1-6 and 8-16. In some embodiments, system 700 may includeaccess points 705 (depicted as stars), communication lines 710 (dottedwhite lines), backhaul connections 715 (solid white lines), and/or othercomponents.

In some embodiments, access points 705 may include the same, similarand/or different access points having one or more of the same, similar,and/or different capabilities and/or functions. In some embodiments,access points 705 may facilitate, permit, enable, route, and/orotherwise influence and/or modify communications, including wired and/orwireless communications.

In some embodiments, communication lines 710 may include only wiredcommunication lines. In some embodiments, communication lines 710 mayinclude only wireless communication lines. In some embodiments,communication lines 710 may include some combination of wired andwireless communication lines.

In some embodiments, certain communication lines may be wiredcommunication lines, while others may be wireless. For example, in FIG.7 one or more of the longest communication lines 710 (extending to thefar left side) may be wired communication lines. In some examples, thesewired communication lines may facilitate high networking speeds withoutsignificant loss over long distances.

Additionally and/or alternatively, in some embodiments, certaincommunication lines may be wireless communication lines. For example, inFIG. 7 one or more of the longest communication lines 710 (extending tothe far left side) may be wireless communication lines. In someexamples, these wireless communication lines may facilitate highnetworking speeds without significant loss over long distances, usingone or more elements relating to the present systems and methods, amongothers.

In some embodiments, one or more communication lines 710 may includenon-millimeter wave communications. In some embodiments, thecommunication lines 710 may only include non-millimeter wavecommunications. In some embodiments, these non-millimeter wavecommunications may include communications within the 5 GHz band, amongothers. Unless otherwise specifically noted, discussion of any wireless,non-millimeter wave communications may apply to any frequency or band inthe non-millimeter wave range. In some embodiments, using non-millimeterwave communication may facilitate relatively long range communicationsbetween one or more access points and/or other system components, asdepicted in FIG. 7 by the communication lines 710 across the golf courseconnecting the access points 705.

In some embodiments, one or more communication lines 710 may includemillimeter wave communications. In some embodiments, the communicationlines 710 may only include millimeter wave communications. In someembodiments, these millimeter wave communications may includecommunications within the 60 GHz band, among others. Unless otherwisespecifically noted, discussion of any wireless, millimeter wavecommunications may apply to any frequency or band in the millimeter waverange. In some embodiments, using millimeter wave communication mayfacilitate relatively long range communications based on one or morelines of sight between one or more access points and/or other systemcomponents, as depicted in FIG. 7 by the communication lines 710 acrossthe golf course connecting the access points 705.

In some embodiments, communication lines 710 having distances greaterthan a predetermined threshold may include using wired and/ornon-millimeter wave communication lines to limit signal attenuation. Insome embodiments, this predetermined threshold may be based at least inpart on the quality and cost of the related components, where thepredetermined distance may be less than 1 kilometer, less than 500meters, less than 250 m, and/or some other amount. Communication lines710 having distances less than the predetermined threshold may includemillimeter wave communication lines based at least in part on lines ofsight between one or more system components, such as access points,CPEs, and/or backhaul connections, etc. Alternatively, however,communication lines having distances greater than the predeterminedthreshold may still employ millimeter wave communication based at leastin part on lines of sight between one or more system components.

In some embodiments, system 700 may include multiple communication lines710 that provide alternatives communication routes from one or moresystem components, such as access points 705. For example, a firstaccess point 705 may be configured to and/or capable of utilizing one ormore communication lines 710. These one or more communication lines mayinclude one or more wired connections, non-millimeter wave connections,millimeter wave connections, some combination of at least some of these,and/or other communication types. Alternatively and/or additionally,these one or more communication lines may include only millimeter waveconnections, with at least one of these millimeter wave connectionsbased at least in part on one or more lines of sight. The one or morelines of sight may relate to the first access point, other accesspoints, and/or other system components.

In some embodiments, system 700 may include one or more backhaulconnections 715. In some embodiments, the backhaul connection 715 mayserve as an intermediate link between communication lines 710 and/oraccess points 705 (e.g., within one or more prescribed geographic areas)and the main network, with one or more of these components facilitatingcommunication routing, uplinking, downlinking, and/or other functions.

In some embodiments, backhaul connection 715 may serve as the connection(direct and/or indirect) between the main network and one or more system700 components. In some embodiments, backhaul connection 715 may includeonly wired connections. In some embodiments, backhaul connection 715 mayinclude only wireless connections. In some embodiments, backhaulconnection 715 may include only millimeter wave connections. In someembodiments, backhaul connection 715 may include only non-millimeterwave connections. In some embodiments, backhaul connection 715 mayinclude only microwave wave connections. In some embodiments, backhaulconnection 715 may include only 60 GHz band connections.

In some embodiments, backhaul connection 715 may include wired andwireless connections. In some embodiments, whether backhaul connection715 includes wired and/or wireless connections may be based on one ormore parameters, characteristics, analyses, identifications,determinations, and/or some combination, among other things. Forexample, whether backhaul connection 715 includes wired and/or wirelessconnections may be based on one or more operations performed by narrowbeam module 215. As an example, whether backhaul connection 715 includeswired and/or wireless connections may be based on the existence ofand/or other characteristics relating to millimeter and/ornon-millimeter wave communications (e.g., distance between two or morecomponents, line of sight, relative positions of other systemcomponents). In some embodiments, backhaul connection 715 may includewired connections (e.g., fiber optic, others). In some embodiments,system 700 may include one or more backhaul connections 715 that includea millimeter wave communication connection configured to provide atleast gigabyte uplink and/or downlink speeds.

FIG. 8 illustrates examples of system 800 in accordance with the presentsystems, apparatuses, and methods. In some embodiments, one or morecomponents of system 800 may include the same, similar and/or differentfunctions, characteristics, performance, and/or other informationrelating to other system, access points, devices, apparatuses, remoteservers, and/or modules related to this disclosure, including relatingto FIGS. 1-7 and 9-16. In some embodiments, system 700 may includeaccess points 705 (depicted as stars), communication lines 710(crosshatched), backhaul connections 715 (striped), narrow beamcommunication signals (e.g., 720, 725, 730, and 735), and/or othercomponents. In some embodiments, the narrow beam communication signalsmay include one or more of the same, similar, and/or differentproperties, functions, characteristics, parameters, and/or otherinformation.

Related to FIG. 8, the narrow beam communications signals shown serveonly as examples. In the examples shown, narrow beam communicationsignal 720 (large diamond checker), narrow beam communication signal 725(small square checker), narrow beam communication signal 730 (smallwaves), and narrow beam communication signal 735 (large waves) merelyserve as representations to visualize different narrow beamcommunication signals having various differences and/or similarities.

In some embodiments, system 800 may include a geographic area. In someembodiments, the area shown by FIG. 8 may include an example of ageographic area. In other embodiments, the area shown by FIG. 8 mayinclude an example of multiple geographic areas that may each be subsetsof the areas shown. In some embodiments, one or more geographic areasmay be non-overlapping and/or partially overlapping. In someembodiments, a geographic area may be identified based on one or morecharacteristics relating to the geographic area. In some embodiments, ageographic area may be identified irrespective of any characteristicrelating to the geographic area.

As merely examples, these characteristics may include, but are notlimited to, a relative size of an area (e.g., acreage size, total size),a number of structures, a distance related to two or more points (e.g.,between structures, streets, foliage, trees, homes, businesses,potential access point locations, relationship to one or more backhaulconnections), a named subset (e.g., a neighborhood, a home development,an office complex), orientation of one or more elements (e.g.,structures, streets, elements relating to one or more cardinaldirections), comparative and/or relative characteristics of a firstgeographic area vs. a second geographic area, and/or other information.

In some embodiments, one or more components of a system, such as system800, may receive, generate, and/or otherwise collect informationrelating to a geographic area. This information may come from onlycomponents of a system (e.g., system 800), only from components outsidea system, from user devices and/or CPEs, some combination, and/or othersources. For example, geographic information may be received fromsatellite data, such as satellite image data. As another example,geographic information may be received from aerial vehicle data, such asplane and/or drone image data. In some embodiments, the geographic areamay include one or more areas of current wireless communication activity(of and/or relating to a certain company, other companies, and/or somecombination, among other things), one or more theoretical areas oftheoretical wireless communication activity, and/or one or more areas ofexpansion for a particular carrier and/or company where they may havezero or only some customers within the geographic area.

In some embodiments, one or more components of a system, such as system800, may receive, generate, and/or otherwise collect topography data.This data may come from only components of a system (e.g., system 800),only from components outside a system including user devices, and/orCPE, and/or some combination. For example, topography data may bereceived from satellite data, such as satellite image data. As anotherexample, topography data may be received from aerial vehicle data, suchas plane and/or drone image data. As another example, topography datamay be received from one or more system components and/or elements, suchas sensors 150, access points 101, remote server, 145, some combination,and/or others.

In some embodiments, examples of topography data may include, but arenot limited to, elevations, locations, textures, colors, shades, shapes,patterns, trends, orientations, shadowing, sizes, reflectivity,structure type, data relating to one or more geographic areas, etc. Inaddition, in some embodiments, topography data may include, but is notlimited to, changes, differences, comparisons, determinations, and/oridentifications relating to relative characteristics of one or moreobjects within a geographic area, including actual objects present(and/or previously present), and/or projected objects relating topotential system and/or other designs.

In some embodiments, one or more operations may be performed on thegeographic area information, the topography data, and/or other relatedinformation. For example, one or more system components (e.g., accesspoint, remote server, etc.) may analyze at least one of the geographicarea information, the topography data, and/or other information. In someembodiments, the analysis may relate only to the geographic areainformation. In some embodiments, the analysis may relate only to thetopography data. In some embodiments, the analysis may includeperforming one or more operations relating to narrow beam module 215,including, but not limited to, operations relating to analysis module320.

In some embodiments, one or more components of a system (e.g., system800) may perform one or more identifications. For example,identifications may relate to positioning, direction, characteristics,calculations, and/or other parameters relating to wireless networkingand one or more geographic areas.

As another example, the identifications may include identifying one ormore lines of sight. In some embodiments, these lines of sight mayinclude current, projected, calculated, alternative, and/or other linesof sight. In some embodiments, these lines of sight may relate to or bespecific to one or more backhaul connections, access points (includingradios), CPEs, structures, narrow beam communication signals, and/orother information. In some embodiments, these lines of sight may bebased at least in part on a predetermined amount relative to one or moreother characteristics relating one or more backhaul connections, accesspoints (including radios), CPEs, structures, narrow beam communicationssignals, other lines of sight, and/or other information.

In some embodiments, access points 705 may include one or more elementsconfigured to and/or capable of initiating and/or performing narrow beamcommunications. These narrow beam communication signals (e.g., 720, 725,730, and 735) may each be the same, similar, and/or different from eachother. In some embodiments, characteristics and/or parameters of thesenarrow beam communication signals (e.g., 720, 725, 730, and 735) may bethe same, similar, and/or different from each other. In someembodiments, the narrow beam communication signals (e.g., 720, 725, 730,and 735) may include one or more various lengths, width, shapes (e.g.,triangle, geometric, polygon, asymmetric, amorphous), frequencies,channels, orientations, organizations, strengths, relationships to oneor more components (e.g., access points, backhaul connections, CPEs,user devices), relationships to one or more lines of sight,relationships to one or more communication lines 710, some combinationof these, and/or other characteristics, among others.

In some embodiments, one or more characteristics and/or parameters ofnarrow beam communication signals (e.g., 720, 725, 730, and 735) mayinfluence one or more identifications, analyses, initiations,adjustment, and/or other operations relating to one or more systemcomponents. In some embodiments, geographic area information mayinfluence the narrow beam communication signals (e.g., 720, 725, 730,and 735), including one or more one or more characteristics and/orparameters of identifications, analyses, initiations, adjustment, and/orother operations relating to one or more system components.

In some embodiments, topography data may influence the narrow beamcommunication signals (e.g., 720, 725, 730, and 735), including one ormore one or more characteristics and/or parameters of identifications,analyses, initiations, adjustment, and/or other operations relating toone or more system components. As merely an example, an absolute and/ora relative position of one or more elements may influence a narrow beamcommunication signal. The relative position may include a position of astructure, a signal inhibitor, an access point, a relative orientationof an access point, a relative direction of another narrow beamcommunication signal, some combination, and/or other components and/orelements.

As another example, as shown on FIG. 8 the relative width and/or lengthof a narrow beam communication signal (e.g., 720, 725, 730, and 735) maybe influenced by the location of one or more signal inhibitors (amongother things). These signal inhibitors may include any component and/orelement that inhibits a narrow beam communication signal (includingmillimeter wave, non-millimeter wave, and/or others), including but notlimited to structures, poles, hills, mountains, foliage (e.g., trees,bushes, brush, vines, etc.), combinations of these, and/or other things.

In some embodiments, the present system and methods facilitate narrowbeam communication despite the presence and/or relative position of oneor more signal inhibitors. For example, by choosing a location of anaccess point 705, a direction of a narrow beam communication signal(e.g., 720, 725, 730, and 735), a backhaul connection 715, and/or someother component and/or element, the present system and methods mayutilize the locations of signal inhibitors to increase performance andreduce interference and other typical network shortcomings. In someembodiments, increased performance and reduced interference (among otherthings) may be based on and/or related to one or more operationsperformed by a system (e.g., operations relating to narrow beam module215), including determining a line of sight and/or other networkorganizational and/or operating characteristics.

As an example, one or more location of an access points may bedetermined based on minimizing the amount of channel interference. Thisinterference minimization (among other advantages) may be based at leastin part on the location of signal inhibitors, one or morecharacteristics and/or parameters of narrow beam communication signals(e.g., operating channel, signal strength, communication direction), oneor more lines of sight relating to one or more system components and/orelements (e.g., access points, narrow beam communication signals), somecombination, and/or other information and/or factors.

As an example, a first narrow beam communication signal 720 may beoriented approximately eastward and extend from a first access pointtoward a second access point. But, based at least in part on thepresence of a signal inhibitor below the first narrow beam communicationsignal 720, a second narrow beam communication signal 720 (e.g., alsooriented eastward) may be positioned to extend from the substantiallythe same longitude position while not interfering with the first narrowbeam communication signal 720. The present system and method thusfacilitate channel reuse and limit channel interference even withinclose communication deployments, including but not limited to thoseshown in FIG. 8.

As another example, a first narrow beam communication signal 720 may beoriented approximately eastward and extend from a first access pointtoward a second access point. But, based at least in part on thepresence of a signal inhibitor at the east end of the first narrow beamcommunication signal 720, a second narrow beam communication signal 720(e.g., oriented southward) may be positioned to extend from thesubstantially the same latitude position while not interfering with thefirst narrow beam communication signal 720. The present system andmethod thus facilitate channel reuse and limit channel interference evenwithin close communication deployments, including but not limited tothose shown in FIG. 8.

In some embodiments, systems and method for wireless networkorganization and/or operation relating to narrow beam communication aredisclosed. In some embodiments, systems and methods may includeperforming one or more operations relating to a geographic area(including one or more subsets of a larger area), performing one or moreoperations relating to topography data, performing one or moreoperations relating to one or more line of sight paths. The presentsystems and methods may be utilized for determining, maximizing, and/orminimizing one or more locations, performance parameters and/orcharacteristics, costs, user coverages, relationship to one or morecomponents, combinations, and/or other information.

In some embodiments, the present system and methods may includeidentifying, determining, and/or calculating one or more locations ofand/or relating to communication lines 710, access points 705, narrowbeam communication signals (e.g., 720, 725, 730, and 735), backhaulconnections 715, combinations, and/or other related components and/orelements. In some embodiments, based at least in part on the location,performance, function, and/or capability (among other things) of one ormore system components, one or more operations may be performed,including identifying and/or determining one or more locations,orientations, characteristics, and/or parameters relating to narrow beamcommunications. In some embodiments, the one or more locations,orientations, characteristics, and/or parameters relating to narrow beamcommunications may be related to and/or relative to one or morelocations of devices, CPEs, apparatuses, and/or access points, amongother things.

In some embodiments, two or more narrow beam communication signals maybe oriented with respect to one another to produce advantages andresults. In some embodiments, the present system and methods may utilizetwo or more narrow beam communication signals that are substantiallyparallel, substantially orthogonal, approximately parallel,approximately orthogonal, parallel, orthogonal, within 3 degrees ofbeing parallel or orthogonal, within 5 degrees of being parallel ororthogonal, within 10 degrees of being parallel or orthogonal, within 15degrees of being parallel or orthogonal, within 20 degrees of beingparallel or orthogonal, within 30 degrees of being parallel ororthogonal, within a predetermined orientation range (e.g., 5 to 10degrees different, 10 to 20 degrees different, 80 to 90 degreesdifferent, 170 to 180 degrees different, less than 45 degrees different,etc.), relative to an angle between a longitudinal axis of each narrowbeam communication signal, some combination, and/or other orientations.

In some embodiments, access points 705 may perform one or more narrowbeam communications, including projecting narrow beam communicationsignals (e.g., 720, 725, 730, and 735). In some embodiments, each ofthese narrow beam communication signals may only be non-millimeter wavecommunication signals (e.g., 5 GHz). These narrow beam, non-millimeterwave signal provide advantages of other non-narrow beam communicationsignals by reducing amount of interference that occurs based on thenumber of access points, the proximity of the access points, the one ormore channels of the competing access points, and/or other problems thatmay occur while still allow for the non-millimeter wave communicationsignals to relate to lines of sight and/or signal inhibitor location.

In some embodiments, each of these narrow beam communication signals mayonly be millimeter wave communication signals (e.g., 60 GHz). Thesenarrow beam, millimeter wave signal provide advantages by increasing theuplink and downlink speeds over certain distances, reducing the amountof interference that occurs based on the number of access points,reducing the amount of interference that occurs based on the proximityof the access points, reducing the amount of interference that occursbased on the one or more channels of the competing access points, and/orother problems that may occur.

In some embodiments, each of these narrow beam communication signals maybe millimeter and/or non-millimeter narrow beam wave communicationsignals (e.g., 5 GHz, 13 GHz, 60 GHz, etc.). Moreover, by designingnetworks based on the present systems and methods in areas with manysignal inhibitors, the signal inhibitors may limit the amount of signalinterference, lobe overlap based on narrow beam communication signals,and facilitate increased system, network, and/or component performance.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, where at least some of the narrow beamcommunication signals are more parallel and/or more orthogonal then thepresence of signal inhibitors, including but not limited to foliage, bydesign the network to utilize millimeter wave communications based onthe location of the signal inhibitors the system (including individualcomponents and collectively) will exhibit increased performance. Inaddition, networks designed in accordance with the present systems andmethods also permit using larger channel sizes even with a large numberof access points based at least in part on the relative positioning ofthe access points, narrow beam communication signals, lines of sight,and/or customer-related equipment, among other things.

For example, in some embodiments, due to the lacking channelinterference based on the orientation and direction of the narrow beamcommunication signals, instead of using narrower channel sizes (e.g., 40megahertz, 30 megahertz, 20 megahertz), the present system and methodfacilitate using channel sizes of 80 megahertz or more, which providesadditional advantages.

In some embodiments, at least some components and/or elements of asystem, including but not limited to a remote server 145 and/or narrowbeam module 215-a, may perform one or more operations, such as utilizinga specially-designed algorithm, relating to designing, testing,identifying, determining, and/or adjusting a theoretical and/or anactual network. In some embodiments, one or more system componentsand/or elements may analyze and/or perform one or more other operationsrelating to geographic area information and/or topography data.

In some embodiments, the present system and methods may include one ormore modes for discovering, saving, analyzing, and/or adjustinginformation relating to a geographic area. In some embodiments, thisinformation may include current organization (positioned structures),projected organization (based on plans, analysis, and/or otherinformation), current and/or projected component and element location(e.g., location of access points), current and/or projected narrow beamcommunication characteristics and/or parameters (e.g., location,orientation, width, length, channel, related devices, etc.), currentand/or projected CPE and/or other devices, some combination, and/orother information.

As one example, one or more devices may discover and store the locationsand orientations of the access points and each narrow beam communicationsignal (actual and/or capability) as related to CPE and other devices.Then based one or more network characteristics, network parameters,and/or other information one or more devices may be adjusted based onthe discovered information and/or other related information, such asgeographic area information and/or topography data.

In some embodiments, two or more narrow beam communication signals mayboth transmit to one or more system components (e.g., a CPE within astructure). Based at least in part on the CPE's reception andutilization of one of the narrow beam communication signals, one or moreadjustments may be made. In some embodiments, these one or moreadjustments may include adjusting one or more of a direction, a channel,a parameter, and/or a characteristic of the unused narrow beamcommunication signal, among other things. This adjustment may be basedat least in part on a channel state indicator relating to the CPE, oneor more narrow beam communications, and/or an access point. This channelstate indicator may indicate which channel (and/or narrow beamcommunication signal) the CPE (and/or another system component and/orelements) has received and/or is receiving, and may facilitate one ormore adjustments based at least in part on this indication.

In some embodiments, the present system and methods may includeutilizing a femtocell chip (and/or a similar device) within and/orrelated to one or more system components and/or elements. In someembodiments, one or more access points 705 may incorporate a femtocellchip that may facilitate and/or enables communication using one or morewireless frequency bands (including but not limited to millimeter wavebands, a 60 GHz band, a non-millimeter wave band, a 5 GHz band, a 2.4GHz band, and/or other frequency bands).

In some embodiments, the one or more access points 705 using a femtocellchip may effectively act as a small cell neighborhood connection.Moreover, in some embodiments, each home or business sufficientlyrelated to the femtocell access point 705 may communicate using thisfemtocell and/or may itself utilize a femtocell within the home tofacilitate various types of communication between devices associatedwith a home and/or one or more femtocells (in the home, a related home,and/or an access point 705).

In some embodiments, one operation and/or step may include identifyingand/or determining one or more lines of sight within one or moregeographic areas. This operation and/or step may be based at least inpart on geographic area information, topography data, location data,performance characteristics and/or parameters, some combination, and/orother information. In some embodiments, one operation and/or step mayinclude identifying and/or determining, including but not limited tocalculating, how to connect one or more lines of sight with each otherand/or one or more components and/or elements with the fewest amount oflines of sight, communication paths, access points, backhaulconnections, some combination, and/or other information.

In some embodiments, one operation and/or step may include identifyingand/or determining, including but not limited to calculating, how apotential and/or an actual network design may perform under certainconditions, including determining how each access point and/orcustomer-related device (e.g., CPE, user devices, etc.) may perform,individually and/or collectively. In some embodiments one or more ofthese operations and/or steps may be based on a preferred customer, anexisting customer, an existing system, an existing system componentand/or element, a relative location of an existing system, systemcomponent, and/or system element to another system, system component,and/or system element, imposed constraints based on one or moreperformance characteristics and/or parameters, some combination, and/orother information.

In some embodiments, information received by, captured by, collected by,and/or generated by one or more system components may influence thenarrow beam communication signals (e.g., 720, 725, 730, and 735),including one or more characteristics and/or parameters ofidentifications, analyses, initiations, adjustment, and/or otheroperations relating to one or more system components.

In some embodiments, at least one narrow beam communication signal(e.g., 720, 725, 730, and 735) may at least partially overlap with oneor more system components and/or elements, including an access point,705, a communication line 710, at least one other narrow beamcommunication signal (e.g., 720, 725, 730, and 735), some combination,and/or other elements. In some embodiments, the present systems andmethods may include performing one or more operations based at least inpart on the overlap.

In some embodiments, the present systems and method may includeperforming one or more operations, including but not limited toidentifying one or more line of sight paths. These lines of sight pathsmay include lines of sight. In some embodiments, these line of sightpaths may be based at least in part on a predetermined amount. In someembodiments, this predetermined amount may include but is not limited toa degree value, an orientation, a direction, a distance, a lineardistance, one or more narrow beam communication signal characteristicsand/or parameters, a relative degree value, a relative orientation, arelative direction, a relative distance, a relative linear distance, oneor more relative narrow beam communication signal characteristics and/orparameters, some combination, and/or other amounts.

In some embodiments, this predetermined amount may include but is notlimited to a relative relationship between two or more systemcomponents, organizational characteristics, and/or other information.For example, the relative relationship may relate to and/or be between afirst line of sight path and a second line of sight path. In someembodiments, these line of sight paths may be independent of, dependenton, and/or related to one or more other system components and/orelements, geographic area information, topography data, narrow beamcommunication characteristics and/or parameters, some combination,and/or other information.

In some embodiments, a line of sight may be related to one or morelocations. These locations may, in some examples, relate to locationswithin a geographic area, relate to topography data, projected and/oractual system components and/or elements (e.g., access points, narrowbeam communication signals), some combination, and/or other information.

In some embodiments, the present systems and method may includeperforming one or more operations, including but not limited to makingone or more adjustments. In some embodiments, an adjustment may includeadjusting a narrow beam communication signal, another system componentand/or element (e.g., an access point, a remote server, a device), astep in a design process and/or algorithm, some combination, and/or oneor more other elements. This adjustment of a narrow beam communicationsingle may include but is not limited to adjusting the signal apredetermined amount.

In some embodiments, multiple adjustments may be performed. Thesemultiple adjustments may relate to a narrow beam communication signal,another system component and/or element (e.g., an access point, a remoteserver, a device), a step in a design process and/or algorithm, somecombination, and/or one or more other elements. In some embodiments,adjusting a direction of one or more system elements may be related toan adjustment of one or more other system elements.

For example, adjusting a direction of a first access point may be basedat least in part on an adjustment of a direction of a second accesspoint. This relative and/or multiple adjustment in accordance with thepresent systems and methods may facilitate enhanced wirelesscommunications performance by increasing uplink and/or downlink speeds,decreasing interference and/or adverse performance, and otheradvantages.

FIG. 9 illustrates examples of system 900 in accordance with the presentsystems, apparatuses, and methods. In some embodiments, one or morecomponents of system 900 may include the same, similar and/or differentfunctions, characteristics, performance, and/or other informationrelating to other systems, access points, devices, apparatuses, remoteservers, and/or modules related to this disclosure, including relatingto FIGS. 1-8 and 10-16. In some embodiments, system 900 may includeaccess points 705 (depicted as stars), communication lines 710 (whitedotted lines), backhaul connections 715 (solid white lines), narrow beamcommunication signals (e.g., 720-a, 720-b, 720-c, 725-a, and 725-b),and/or other components. In some embodiments, the narrow beamcommunication signals may include one or more of the same, similar,and/or different properties, functions, characteristics, parameters,and/or other information.

In some embodiments, one or components and/or elements of system 900 maybe adjusted based on least in part on various criteria. In someembodiments, one or more adjustments may relate to one or more functionsof narrow beam module 215-a discussed with respect to FIG. 3, includingbut not limited to adjustment module 330. FIG. 9 provides examples ofthe present systems and methods including analysis of potentialcomponents and/or elements, organization of potential components and/orelements, applications of potential components and/or elements,calculations related to potential components and/or elements,combinations, and/or other operations. FIG. 9 also provides examples ofthe present systems and methods including analysis of actual componentsand/or elements, organization of actual components and/or elements,applications of actual components and/or elements, calculations relatedto actual components and/or elements, combinations, and/or otheroperations.

In some embodiments, based at least in part on one or more operations,the present systems and methods may include adjusting one or moreoperating components, elements, characteristics, parameters, somecombination, and/or other things. For example, in some embodiments,based at least in part on lines of sight from one access point 705 toone of three other access points 705, one or more lines of sight (e.g.,communication lines 710-a, 710-b, and/or 710-c) may be weighed,evaluated, analyzed, identified, and/or determined, including decidingon a line of sight that will facilitate system performance, including ata current time, at a future time, based on a range of time, somecombination, and/or other information.

In some embodiments, based at least in part on one or more operations,in theory and/or in actual practice access point 705-a may be adjustedbased on one or more communication lines, such as communication lines710-c, 710-b, and/or 710-a. For example, based on a determination and/orother operation regarding a line of sight corresponding to communicationline 710-c, access point 705-a may be adjusted to 710-b and/or 710-a.

For example, if a determination and/or other operation regarding a lineof sight indicates that communication line 710-c is currently,theoretically, and/or will be in the future less able to maintaincertain performance threshold and/or predetermined values, then accesspoint 705-a may be adjusted to one or more of communication lines 710-band/or 710-a. This adjustment may include cycling a signal over time,rotating an access point, rotating a direction of a narrow beamcommunication, changing a receiver direction and/or orientation, somecombination, and/or other operations, among others.

In some embodiments, this adjustment may include a dynamic ability tosteer the access points and/or the narrow beam communication signalsbased at least in part on using one or more active antennas. This activeantenna design provides advantages in areas with certain topographicalcharacteristics, including but not limited to the presence of signalinhibitors, the orientation, layout, and/or organization of thegeographic area (and/or subsets), the location of CPE and/or otherdevices, the location, orientation, organization of one or morestructures (e.g., homes, offices, buildings), some combination, and/orother information. In some embodiments, utilizing dynamically adjustablesystem components, such as access points, a system may adjust to one ormore past, current, and/or future (based at least in part on trends,patterns, projections, calculations, etc.) system performancecharacteristics and/or parameters.

For example, if communication line 710-c and/or another system componentrelating to communication line 710-c (e.g., another access point, a CPE,a user device, etc.) are performing below a predetermined performancethreshold, characteristic, and/or parameter, access point 705-a mayadjust (in one or more ways) to establish a different connection withaffected system component(s) and/or element(s). This permits dynamicadjustment of one or more network components to minimize effects ofadverse and/or sub-standard performance (based on situations such as aservice outage and/or network saturation, among others).

In some embodiments, the present system and methods enable networkorganization of dynamic mesh networks using narrow beam communicationsignals. In some embodiments, location of one more system components maybe discovered, received, and/or stored. In some embodiments, thislocation information may be received and/or relate to geographic areainformation. In some embodiments, this location information may bereceived and/or relate to topography data. In some embodiments, thislocation information may be received and/or relate to analysis performedby one or more system components, including but not limited to, one ormore modules of narrow beam module 215-a.

In some embodiments, the location information may include a relativelocation of one or more system components, structures, inhibitors,and/or other elements related to one or more other system components,structures, inhibitors, and/or other elements. For example, a relativelocation of a CPE device may be discovered, received and/or otherwiseknown and a relative distance of the CPE device and an access pointand/or a narrow beam communication may be determined, identified,calculated, and/or otherwise found. In some embodiments, the location ofone or more elements may be determined based at least in part on GPSinformation. In some embodiments, the location of one or more elementsmay be determined based at least in part on iBeacon (and/or some similargeo-location information and/or methods), and/or related informationrelated to one or more structures, including those within a geographicarea.

As another example, if narrow beam communication signal 720-c and/oranother system component relating to access point 705-b (e.g., anotheraccess point, a CPE, a user device, etc.) are performing below apredetermined performance characteristic and/or parameter, access point705-b may adjust (in one or more ways) to establish a differentconnection with affected system component(s) and/or element(s). Forexample, access point 705-b may adjust and/or be adjusted (based on acommunication from one or more other system components and/or elements,such as a remote server 145 utilizing an algorithm), so narrow beamcommunication signal 720-c now additionally and/or alternativelytransmits in a different direction, as shown by narrow beamcommunication signal 720-a. This adjustment may permit one access pointto facilitate service for multiple CPEs and/or other devices based onany number of reasons, characteristics, parameters, and/or otherinformation. This permits dynamic adjustment of one or more networkcomponents to minimize effects of adverse and/or sub-par performance(such as a service outage and/or network saturation, among others).

In some embodiments, potential adjustments (relating to an access pointand/or another system component) may be weighed, evaluated, and/oranalyzed. This weighing, evaluating, and/or analyzing may be based atleast in part on one or more operating characteristics of one or moreother system components. For example, to determine and/or analyzewhether and/or how an adjustment should be made, the relativeorientations of two different narrow beam communication signals may beanalyzed, including but not limited to determining whether one or morealternative orientations is more or less parallel to another, more orless orthogonal to another, the relative strength of the signals, therelative channels of the signals, one or more operating characteristicsand/or parameters, and/or some combination, among other things.

As another example, if narrow beam communication signal 720-c and/oranother system component relating to access point 705-b (e.g., anotheraccess point, a CPE, a user device, etc.) are projected to perform belowa predetermined performance characteristic and/or parameter, accesspoint 705-b may adjust (in one or more ways) to establish a differentconnection with affected system component(s) and/or element(s). In someembodiments, this projection (and/or one or more other operations suchas analyzing) may be based at least in part on historical performanceincluding trends, patterns, alerts, performance changes, high volumeusage times, and/or other information relating to one or more accesspoints, CPEs, user devices. In some embodiments, this projection may bebased at least in part on calculated and/or future performance relatingto one or more access points, CPEs, user devices, among other things.This calculated performance may be based in part on current performanceparameters and/or characteristics as well as projected performanceparameters and/or characteristics.

For example, access point 705-b may adjust and/or be adjusted (based ona communication from one or more other system components and/orelements, such as a remote server 145 utilizing an algorithm), so narrowbeam communication signal 720-c now additionally and/or alternativelytransmits in a different direction, as shown by narrow beamcommunication signal 720-a during one or more times that havehistorically required and/or performed additional uplink and/or downlinktransmissions. This adjustment may permit one access point to facilitateservice for multiple CPEs and/or other devices based on any number ofreasons, characteristics, parameters, and/or other information. Thispermits dynamic adjustment of one or more network components to minimizeeffects of adverse and/or sub-standard performance (such as a serviceoutage and/or network saturation, among others).

In some embodiments, based at least in part on one or more operations,in theory and/or in actual practice access point 705-b and/or 705-c maybe adjusted based on one or more operations, narrow beam communicationsignals, communication lines, other system components and/or elements,some combination, and/or others. For example, based on a determinationand/or other operation regarding an operation of, a request by, anetwork performance parameter and/or characteristic, a user equipmentoperation, some combination, and/or other information, a narrow beamcommunication signal (e.g., 720-a) may be adjusted.

For example, if a determination and/or other operation regarding anarrow beam communication signal and one or more other components and/orelements of a system indicates a need for additional narrow beamcommunication signal in a different area then access point 705-b mayperform one or more adjustments. This adjustment may include cycling asignal over time, rotating an access point, modifying one or moreoperations performed by a narrow beam module 215-a, modifying one ormore steps and/or operations relating to an algorithm, changing areceiver and/or a transmitter direction and/or orientation, changing adirection of one or more narrow beam communication signals, somecombination, and/or other operations, among others.

As another example, in some embodiments, access point 705-b may beconfigured and/or capable of adjusting a narrow beam communicationsignal based at least in part on information related to one or moresystem components and/or elements, such as access point 705-c, narrowbeam communication signal 725-a, narrow beam communication signal 725-b,some combination, and/or other information. For example, assuming accesspoint 705-c is transmitting narrow beam communication signal 725-a,access point 705-b may adjust from transmitting narrow beamcommunication signal 720-b to transmitting narrow beam communicationsignal 720-a.

As another example, assuming access point 705-b is transmitting narrowbeam communication signal 720-c, access point 705-c may adjust fromtransmitting narrow beam communication signal 725-b to transmittingnarrow beam communication signal 725-a. In some embodiments, thisadjustment may be based at least in part on a relative direction ofand/or relative location relating to narrow beam communication signal720-b and narrow beam communication signal 725-a, narrow beamcommunication signal 720-a and narrow beam communication signal 725-a,narrow beam communication signal 720-c and narrow beam communicationsignal 725-b, narrow beam communication signal 720-c and narrow beamcommunication signal 725-a, access point 705-b and access point 705-c,other system components and/or elements, some combination, and/or otherinformation.

FIG. 10 illustrates examples of system 1000 in accordance with thepresent systems, apparatuses, and methods. In some embodiments, one ormore components of system 1000 may include the same, similar and/ordifferent functions, characteristics, performance, and/or otherinformation relating to other systems, access points, devices,apparatuses, remote servers, and/or modules related to this disclosure,including relating to FIGS. 1-9 and 11-16. In some embodiments, system1000 may include access points 705 (depicted as stars), communicationlines 710 (white dotted lines), narrow beam communication signals (e.g.,720, 725, and 730), equipment 740 (e.g., CPEs, user devices such asmobile phone, tablets, etc.), signal inhibitors 745, and/or othercomponents. In some embodiments, the narrow beam communication signalsmay include one or more of the same, similar, and/or differentproperties, functions, characteristics, parameters, and/or otherinformation.

In some embodiments, system 1000 may include positioning one or moresystem components relative to one or more structures, signal inhibitors,locations, and/or lines of sight. For example, an access point 705 maybe positioned (or one or more alternative positions determined,identified, calculated, and/or otherwise compared) related to one ormore other access points communication lines 710, lines of sight, narrowbeam communication signals (e.g., 720, 725, and 730), equipment 740(e.g., CPEs, user devices such as mobile phone, tablets, etc.), signalinhibitors 745, some combination, and/or other elements.

This organization and/or positioning may facilitate one or more accesspoints 705 providing multiple narrow beam communication signals (e.g.,720 and 725). This organization and/or positioning may facilitate one ormore access points 705 communicating with multiple pieces of equipment740, including multiple CPEs, multiple apparatuses, multiple userdevices, devices, some combination, and/or other devices.

In some embodiments, the present system and methods provide advantagesbased at least in part on one or more operations, such as thoseperformed by narrow beam module 215-a. In some embodiments, the presentsystem and methods provide advantages based at least in part on thelocations of one or more access points. In some embodiments, the presentsystem and methods provide advantages based at least in part on the oneor more lines of sight relating to two or more system components and/orelements.

In some embodiments, the present system and methods facilitate a networkof narrow beam communication based at least in part on the location ofone or more access points 705. In some embodiments, these access pointsmay be positioned on a roof of a structure in a geographic area, asshown in the exemplary FIG. 10. Certain applications of communicationsignals, networks, and systems require distinct organization andpositioning on environmental factors, including the position and relatedcharacteristics of signal inhibitors.

Based at least in part on the operations relating to narrow beam module215-a (among other components), it may be determined that one or moreaccess points 705 should be positioned at a point on a roof of astructure to avoid interference with signal inhibitors and othercomponents. In some embodiments, this rooftop placement allows for lessattenuated signals and greater uplink and downlink communication speedsby avoiding inhibitors that may block a line of sight, which impactmillimeter and non-millimeter signals to varying degrees. In someembodiments, instead of placing the access points and/or othercomponents in a structure, on a side of a structure, at a street level(on a side of a home, on a pole, or otherwise), the access points and/orother components may be placed on a rooftop to avoid often-presentinhibitors such as streets lined with foliage, poles, vegetation,vehicles, and/or buildings, among others.

In some embodiments, placing the access points 705 and/or othercomponents on a rooftop may provide a relatively unchanging, line ofsight path from an access point to one or more pieces of equipment 740and/or other access points 705 to facilitate system performance overtime. In some embodiments, this unchanging line of sight path may bebased on locations and/or patterns of signal inhibitor positioning,including the location, planting, growth, and/or other characteristicsof foliage such as trees and shrubs, structures, and/or other signalinhibitors, as illustrated in FIG. 10, among others.

In some embodiments, two or more narrow beam communications (e.g., 730)may be positioned relative to one another, relative to one or morepieces of equipment 740, signal inhibitors 745, and/or other componentsand/or elements. For example, a first narrow beam communication signal730 sent from a first access point 705 may be oriented generally southand may have certain characteristics. A second narrow beam communicationsignal 730 sent from a second access point 705 may be oriented generallywest and may have some of the same and/or similar characteristics to thefirst narrow beam communication signal. Based at least in part on thenetwork design and/or organization from the present systems and methods,channel reuse, and/or interference minimization may employed withoutadversely affecting system and network performance.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1100 fornarrow beam wireless communications, in accordance with various aspectsof the present disclosure. For clarity, the method 1100 is describedbelow with reference to aspects of one or more embodiments of the narrowbeam modules 215, the access points 101, the apparatuses 105, the remoteservers 145, and/or the devices 115, described with reference to FIGS.1-10. In some examples, an apparatus, an access point, a remote server,and/or one or more devices may execute one or more sets of codes tocontrol the functional elements of an apparatus, an access point, and/orone or more devices to perform the functions described below.Additionally or alternatively, another device 115 (e.g., a user device)may perform one or more of the functions described below usingspecial-purpose hardware.

At block 1105, the method 1100 may include identifying a geographicarea. At block 1110, the method 1100 may include receiving topographydata related to the geographic area. At block 1115, the method 1100 mayinclude analyzing the topography data. At block 1120, the method 1100may include identifying a first line of sight path related to a firstaccess point location and one or more customer premises device locationsbased at least in part on the analyzing. At block 1125, the method 1100may include identifying a second line of sight path based at least inpart on a predetermined amount.

At least some of the operations at blocks 1105-1125 may be performedusing the narrow beam module 215-a (and variations) described withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3, among others.

Thus, the method 1100 may relate to narrow beam communications relatingto wireless communication systems. It should be noted that the method1100 is just one implementation and that the operations of the method1100 may be rearranged or otherwise modified such that otherimplementations are possible.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1200 fornarrow beam wireless communications, in accordance with various aspectsof the present disclosure. For clarity, the method 1200 is describedbelow with reference to aspects of one or more embodiments of the narrowbeam modules 215, the access points 101, the apparatuses 105, the remoteservers 145, and/or the devices 115, described with reference to FIGS.1-10. In some examples, an apparatus, an access point, a remote server,and/or one or more devices may execute one or more sets of codes tocontrol the functional elements of an apparatus, an access point, and/orone or more devices to perform the functions described below.Additionally or alternatively, another device 115 (e.g., a user device)may perform one or more of the functions described below usingspecial-purpose hardware.

At block 1205, the method 1200 may include identifying a geographicarea. At block 1210, the method 1200 may include receiving location datarelating to the geographic area. At block 1215, the method 1200 mayinclude receiving network performance data. At block 1220, the method1200 may include analyzing the location data and/or the networkperformance data.

At block 1225, the method 1200 may include identifying a first accesspoint in the geographic area based at least in part on the analyzing. Atblock 1230, the method 1200 may include adjusting a narrow beamcommunication device a predetermined amount relating to the first accesspoint based at least in part on the analyzing.

At least some of the operations at blocks 1205-1225 may be performedusing the narrow beam module 215-a (and variations) described withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3, among others.

Thus, the method 1200 may relate to narrow beam communications relatingto wireless communication systems. It should be noted that the method1200 is just one implementation and that the operations of the method1200 may be rearranged or otherwise modified such that otherimplementations are possible.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1300 fornarrow beam wireless communications, in accordance with various aspectsof the present disclosure. For clarity, the method 1300 is describedbelow with reference to aspects of one or more embodiments of the narrowbeam modules 215, the access points 101, the apparatuses 105, the remoteservers 145, and/or the devices 115, described with reference to FIGS.1-10. In some examples, an apparatus, an access point, a remote server,and/or one or more devices may execute one or more sets of codes tocontrol the functional elements of an apparatus, an access point, and/orone or more devices to perform the functions described below.Additionally or alternatively, another device 115 (e.g., a user device)may perform one or more of the functions described below usingspecial-purpose hardware.

At block 1305, the method 1300 may include identifying a geographicarea. At block 1310, the method 1300 may include receiving topographydata related to one or more geographic areas. At block 1315, the method1300 may include analyzing the topography data, including determiningrelative positions of the first access point location and the secondaccess point location based at least in part on one or more operatingcharacteristics.

At block 1320, the method 1300 may include identifying one or morealternatives for a first line of sight path related to a first accesspoint location and one or more other locations based at least in part onthe analyzing. At block 1325, the method 1300 may include identifying asecond line of sight path based at least in part on a relative positionand/or orientation of two or more access points. At block 1330, themethod 1300 may include initiating a narrow beam communication thatincludes one of a millimeter wave communication or a non-millimeter wavecommunication relating to the first access point and the one or morecustomer premises devices.

At least some of the operations at blocks 1305-1330 may be performedusing the narrow beam module 215-a (and variations) described withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3, among others.

Thus, the method 1300 may relate to narrow beam communications relatingto wireless communication systems. It should be noted that the method1300 is just one implementation and that the operations of the method1300 may be rearranged or otherwise modified such that otherimplementations are possible.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1400 fornarrow beam wireless communications, in accordance with various aspectsof the present disclosure. For clarity, the method 1400 is describedbelow with reference to aspects of one or more embodiments of the narrowbeam modules 215, the access points 101, the apparatuses 105, the remoteservers 145, and/or the devices 115, described with reference to FIGS.1-10. In some examples, an apparatus, an access point, a remote server,and/or one or more devices may execute one or more sets of codes tocontrol the functional elements of an apparatus, an access point, and/orone or more devices to perform the functions described below.Additionally or alternatively, another device 115 (e.g., a user device)may perform one or more of the functions described below usingspecial-purpose hardware.

At block 1405, the method 1400 may include identifying a geographicarea. At block 1410, the method 1400 may include receiving topographydata related to one or more geographic areas, including customer devicerelated data and/or signal inhibitor related data. At block 1415, themethod 1400 may include analyzing the topography data, includingcomparing the first access point location and the one or more customerpremises device locations with a location of one or more signalinhibitors.

At block 1420, the method 1400 may include analyzing the topographydata, including comparing a visual characteristic of one or more pointswithin the geographic area. At block 1425, the method 1400 may includeidentifying one or more alternatives for a first line of sight pathrelated to a first access point location and one or more other locationsbased at least in part on the analyzing. At block 1430, the method 1400may include identifying a second line of sight path based at least inpart on a relative position and/or orientation of two or more accesspoints.

At least some of the operations at blocks 1405-1430 may be performedusing the narrow beam module 215-a (and variations) described withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3, among others.

Thus, the method 1400 may relate to narrow beam communications relatingto wireless communication systems. It should be noted that the method1400 is just one implementation and that the operations of the method1400 may be rearranged or otherwise modified such that otherimplementations are possible.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1500 fornarrow beam wireless communications, in accordance with various aspectsof the present disclosure. For clarity, the method 1500 is describedbelow with reference to aspects of one or more embodiments of the narrowbeam modules 215, the access points 101, the apparatuses 105, the remoteservers 145, and/or the devices 115, described with reference to FIGS.1-10. In some examples, an apparatus, an access point, a remote server,and/or one or more devices may execute one or more sets of codes tocontrol the functional elements of an apparatus, an access point, and/orone or more devices to perform the functions described below.Additionally or alternatively, another device 115 (e.g., a user device)may perform one or more of the functions described below usingspecial-purpose hardware.

At block 1505, the method 1500 may include identifying a geographic areaand a first line of sight path related to a first access point. At block1510, the method 1500 may include receiving location data relating tothe geographic area. At block 1515, the method 1500 may includeanalyzing the location data and/or one or more other types of data. Atblock 1520, the method 1500 may include identifying a first access pointin the geographic area based at least in part on the analyzing.

At block 1525, the method 1500 may include adjusting a narrow beamcommunication device including adjusting a direction of the first accesspoint the predetermined amount relative to the first line of sight path.At block 1530, the method 1500 may include adjusting a narrow beamcommunication device a predetermined amount based at least in part on asecond access point location.

At least some of the operations at blocks 1505-1530 may be performedusing the narrow beam module 215-a (and variations) described withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3, among others.

Thus, the method 1500 may relate to narrow beam communications relatingto wireless communication systems. It should be noted that the method1500 is just one implementation and that the operations of the method1500 may be rearranged or otherwise modified such that otherimplementations are possible.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1600 fornarrow beam wireless communications, in accordance with various aspectsof the present disclosure. For clarity, the method 1600 is describedbelow with reference to aspects of one or more embodiments of the narrowbeam modules 215, the access points 101, the apparatuses 105, the remoteservers 145, and/or the devices 115, described with reference to FIGS.1-10. In some examples, an apparatus, an access point, a remote server,and/or one or more devices may execute one or more sets of codes tocontrol the functional elements of an apparatus, an access point, and/orone or more devices to perform the functions described below.Additionally or alternatively, another device 115 (e.g., a user device)may perform one or more of the functions described below usingspecial-purpose hardware.

At block 1605, the method 1600 may include identifying a geographic areaand a first line of sight path related to a first access point and asecond line of sight path related to a second access point. At block1610, the method 1600 may include receiving location data and/or networkperformance data relating to the geographic area. At block 1615, themethod 1600 may include analyzing the location data includingdetermining one or more trends and/or correlations based at least inpart on the historical performance data.

At block 1620, the method 1600 may include identifying a first accesspoint in the geographic area based at least in part on the analyzing. Atblock 1625, the method 1600 may include adjusting a narrow beamcommunication device including adjusting a direction of the first accesspoint the predetermined amount relative to the first line of sight path.At block 1630, the method 1600 may include adjusting a narrow beamcommunication device including adjusting a direction of the secondaccess point based at least in part on adjusting the direction of thefirst access point.

At least some of the operations at blocks 1605-1630 may be performedusing the narrow beam module 215-a (and variations) described withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3, among others.

Thus, the method 1600 may relate to narrow beam communications relatingto wireless communication systems. It should be noted that the method1600 is just one implementation and that the operations of the method1600 may be rearranged or otherwise modified such that otherimplementations are possible.

In some examples, aspects from two or more of the methods 1100, 1200,1300, 1400, 1500, and/or 1600 may be combined, omitted, separated,and/or otherwise modified. It should be noted that the methods 1100,1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, etc. are just example implementations, andthat the operations of the methods 1100-1600 may be rearranged orotherwise modified such that other implementations are possible.

The detailed description set forth above in connection with the appendeddrawings describes examples and does not represent the only instancesthat may be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. Theterms “example” and “exemplary,” when used in this description, mean“serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred”or “advantageous over other examples.” The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of thedescribed techniques. These techniques, however, may be practicedwithout these specific details. In some instances, known structures andapparatuses are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuringthe concepts of the described examples.

Information and signals may be represented using any of a variety ofdifferent technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions,commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may bereferenced throughout the above description may be represented byvoltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles,optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and components described in connectionwith this disclosure may be implemented or performed with ageneral-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, anFPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistorlogic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designedto perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processormay be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may beany conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, and/or statemachine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination ofcomputing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor,multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunctionwith a DSP core, and/or any other such configuration.

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, softwareexecuted by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may bestored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are withinthe scope and spirit of the disclosure and appended claims. For example,due to the nature of software, functions described above can beimplemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware,hardwiring, or combinations of any of these. Features implementingfunctions may also be physically located at various positions, includingbeing distributed such that portions of functions are implemented atdifferent physical locations.

As used herein, including in the claims, the term “and/or,” when used ina list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items canbe employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listeditems can be employed. For example, if a composition is described ascontaining components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain Aalone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination;B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination. Also, as usedherein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (forexample, a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of”or “one or more of”) indicates a disjunctive list such that, forexample, a list of “at least one of A, B, or C” means A or B or C or ABor AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C).

In addition, any disclosure of components contained within othercomponents or separate from other components should be consideredexemplary because multiple other architectures may potentially beimplemented to achieve the same functionality, including incorporatingall, most, and/or some elements as part of one or more unitarystructures and/or separate structures.

Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media andcommunication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of acomputer program from one place to another. A storage medium may be anyavailable medium that can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation,computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory,CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used tocarry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions ordata structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose orspecial-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purposeprocessor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readablemedium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website,server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable,twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologiessuch as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiberoptic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such asinfrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium.Disk and disc, as used herein, include compact disc (CD), laser disc,optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray discwhere disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproducedata optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also includedwithin the scope of computer-readable media.

The previous description of the disclosure is provided to enable aperson skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Variousmodifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may beapplied to other variations without departing from the scope of thedisclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not to be limited to the examplesand designs described herein but is to be accorded the broadest scopeconsistent with the principles and novel features disclosed.

This disclosure may specifically apply to security system applications.This disclosure may specifically apply to automation systemapplications. In some embodiments, the concepts, the technicaldescriptions, the features, the methods, the ideas, and/or thedescriptions may specifically apply to security and/or automation systemapplications. Distinct advantages of such systems for these specificapplications are apparent from this disclosure.

The process parameters, actions, and steps described and/or illustratedin this disclosure are given by way of example only and can be varied asdesired. For example, while the steps illustrated and/or described maybe shown or discussed in a particular order, these steps do notnecessarily need to be performed in the order illustrated or discussed.The various exemplary methods described and/or illustrated here may alsoomit one or more of the steps described or illustrated here or includeadditional steps in addition to those disclosed.

Furthermore, while various embodiments have been described and/orillustrated here in the context of fully functional computing systems,one or more of these exemplary embodiments may be distributed as aprogram product in a variety of forms, regardless of the particular typeof computer-readable media used to actually carry out the distribution.The embodiments disclosed herein may also be implemented using softwaremodules that perform certain tasks. These software modules may includescript, batch, or other executable files that may be stored on acomputer-readable storage medium or in a computing system. In someembodiments, these software modules may permit and/or instruct acomputing system to perform one or more of the exemplary embodimentsdisclosed here.

This description, for purposes of explanation, has been described withreference to specific embodiments. The illustrative discussions above,however, are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the present systemsand methods to the precise forms discussed. Many modifications andvariations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodimentswere chosen and described in order to explain the principles of thepresent systems and methods and their practical applications, to enableothers skilled in the art to utilize the present systems, apparatus, andmethods and various embodiments with various modifications as may besuited to the particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for wireless networking andcommunications, comprising: identifying a visual characteristicassociated with a geographic area; receiving topography data associatedwith the geographic area; comparing the visual characteristic associatedwith the geographic area and the topography data; identifying a currentlocation of a user device associated with the geographic area;identifying a first line of sight path associated with a first accesspoint location and the user device based at least in part on thecomparing; identifying a second line of sight path based at least inpart on the first line of sight path, the second line of sight pathbeing different from the first line of sight path; and adjusting acharacteristic of an antenna associated with the first access pointbased at least in part on identifying the second line of sight path. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the visual characteristicassociated with the geographic area comprises: determining at least oneof a texture, a color, a shape, a reflectivity, a structure type, or acombination thereof.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting thecharacteristic of the antenna comprises: adjusting a narrow beamcommunication.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein adjusting the narrowbeam communication further comprises: adjusting a frequency associatedwith the narrow beam communication, or a channel associated with thenarrow beam communication, or a strength of the narrow beamcommunication, or a communication direction, or a communication width,or a horizontal narrow beam communication characteristic, or a verticalnarrow beam communication characteristic, or a location of a component,or a combination thereof.
 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:receiving network performance data associated with the user device;determining a weight value based at least in part on the identifiedvisual characteristic of the geographic area, the topography data, andthe identified location of the user device; applying the weight value tothe narrow beam communication based at least in part on the networkperformance data; and wherein adjusting the narrow beam communication isbased at least in part on the weight value.
 6. The method of claim 5,further comprising: determining an existence of a signal inhibitor fromthe topography data; and adjusting the weight value based at least inpart on determining the existence of the signal inhibitor.
 7. The methodof claim 3, further comprising: determining an anticipated change in thetopography data within a predetermined time frame, wherein adjusting thenarrow beam communication is based at least in part on the anticipatedchange.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the topography datacomprises: receiving the topography data from an aerial representationassociated with the geographic area.
 9. An apparatus for wirelessnetworking and communications, comprising: a processor; memory inelectronic communication with the processor; and instructions stored inthe memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to causethe apparatus to: identify a visual characteristic associated with ageographic area; receive topography data associated with the geographicarea; compare the visual characteristic associated with the geographicarea and the topography data; identify a current location of a userdevice associated with the geographic area; identify a first line ofsight path associated with a first access point location and the userdevice based at least in part on the comparing; identify a second lineof sight path based at least in part on the first line of sight path,the second line of sight path being different from the first line ofsight path; and adjust a characteristic of an antenna associated withthe first access point based at least in part on identifying the secondline of sight path.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein when theprocessor identifies the visual characteristic associated with thegeographic area, the instructions further cause the processor to causethe apparatus to: determine at least one of a texture, a color, a shape,a reflectivity, a structure type, or a combination thereof.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein when the processor adjusts thecharacteristic of the antenna, the instructions further cause theprocessor to cause the apparatus to: adjust a narrow beam communication.12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein when the processor adjusts thenarrow beam communication, the instructions further cause the processorto cause the apparatus to: adjust a frequency associated with the narrowbeam communication, a channel associated with the narrow beamcommunication, a strength of the narrow beam communication, acommunication direction, a communication width, a horizontal narrow beamcommunication characteristic, a vertical narrow beam communicationcharacteristic, a location of a component, or a combination thereof. 13.The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause theprocessor to cause the apparatus to: receive network performance dataassociated with the user device; determine a weight value based at leastin part on the identified visual characteristic of the geographic area,the topography data, and the identified location of the user device;apply the weight value to the narrow beam communication based at leastin part on the network performance data; and wherein adjusting thenarrow beam communication is based at least in part on the weight value.14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the instructions further causethe processor to cause the apparatus to: determine an existence of asignal inhibitor from the topography data; and adjust the weight valuebased at least in part on determining the existence of the signalinhibitor.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein when the processoradjusts the narrow beam communication, the instructions further causethe processor to cause the apparatus to: determine an anticipated changein the topography data within a predetermined time frame, whereinadjusting the narrow beam communication is based at least in part on theanticipated change.
 16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein when theprocessor receives the topography data, the instructions further causethe processor to cause the apparatus to: receive the topography datafrom an aerial device associated with the geographic area.
 17. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executablecode, the code executable by a processor to: identify a visualcharacteristic associated with a geographic area; receive topographydata associated with the geographic area; compare the visualcharacteristic associated with the geographic area and the topographydata; identify a current location of a user device associated with thegeographic area; identify a first line of sight path associated with afirst access point location and the user device based at least in parton the comparing; identify a second line of sight path based at least inpart on the first line of sight path, the second line of sight pathbeing different from the first line of sight path; and adjust acharacteristic of an antenna associated with the first access pointbased at least in part on identifying the second line of sight path. 18.The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein whenthe processor identifies the visual characteristic associated with thegeographic area, the code further causes the processor to: determine atleast one of a texture, a color, a shape, a reflectivity, a structuretype, or a combination thereof.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 17, wherein when the processor adjusts thecharacteristic of the antenna, the code further causes the processor to:adjust a narrow beam communication.
 20. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein when the processor adjuststhe narrow beam communication, the code further causes the processor to:adjust a frequency associated with the narrow beam communication, achannel associated with the narrow beam communication, a strength of thenarrow beam communication, a communication direction, a communicationwidth, a horizontal narrow beam communication characteristic, a verticalnarrow beam communication characteristic, a location of a component, ora combination thereof.